Washington, DC is a great city for recent grads. With historic sites, a killer restaurant scene, iconic museums, and artsy hubs, there is always something to keep your schedule full. Whether you prefer to live in a bustling neighborhood with vibrant nightlife or in a well-connected area, DC has plenty of options for young people to relax, socialize, and thrive.
These are our picks for best neighborhoods for recent grads in Washington, DC. Why? Read on to find out.
- H Street Corridor/H Street NE
- Dupont Circle
- Navy Yard
- Logan Circle/14th Street
- U Street/Shaw
- Foggy Bottom
- Adams Morgan
- Columbia Heights
H Street Corridor/H Street NE
Named for the street on which it is centered, the tightly-knit H Street neighborhood has an artsy vibe, trendy eateries, quirky bars, and indie designer shops. Nearby Union Station makes for a convenient commute, with connections to Amtrak, MARC, VRE Commuter Rail, and Greyhound. The area’s nightlife is growing, with popular watering holes like The Haymaker Bar and modern places to eat like &pizza.
The renovated art deco theater, The Atlas Performing Arts Center, takes the culture up a notch with live entertainment as well as The H Street Playhouse. There’s also a weekly farmers’ market where you can stock up on fresh produce. The streets come alive with live music and local street food every September for the H Street Festival. The median rent prices in this neighborhood are a little bit more than average for DC, but you get what you pay for.
Dupont Circle
Want to live in the thick of things? Dupont Circle is for you! But only if you already have a (nice) job offer. Just north of Downtown, the community is one of the most popular in the city, drawing a wide range of residents to its enclave of housing, amenities, education, and employment. The cost of living around here is about 10% higher than DC’s average. The high cost of living is due to its central location (read: short commute) with many cafes, funky shops, hip restaurants, and a buzzing nightlife scene within walking distance on and around the main traffic circle. The traffic circle is a historic landmark that features a fountain and is a frequent locale for political rallies.
Navy Yard
More affordable than Dupont Circle, this historic waterside shipbuilding site is great for 20-something singles and couples. The Navy Yard district is constantly growing and evolving ever since the Navy resumed operations back to the site in the early 2000s. The nautical juggernaut, the historic 1800s Washington Navy Yard is still the home of the National Museum of the US Navy, is now also home to the Washington Nationals, with sports bars and beer gardens nearby for baseball fans, wine tasting bars, and the Capitol Riverfront. Other attractions include The Yards Park, a green space along the Anacostia River with a riverside boardwalk, which hosts summer concerts and provides a view of hundreds of boats docked along the pier. Here, you can have an apartment with a view, although the building might be a bit dated. Again, rent is high, but you’re paying for easy access to the rest of DC.
Logan Circle/14th Street
One of the trendiest, most eclectic neighborhoods in DC, Logan Circle — and its main drag, 14th Street — are home to hip restaurants, stylish home-decor stores, gay bars, and craft beer pubs. Located in the Northwest quadrant of the city, the historic district is primarily residential. Everyone from students, yuppies, artists, and designers inhabits the charming, well-preserved Victorian houses grouped around the neighborhood’s traffic circle. Some have funked up their abodes—one house is painted like a watermelon, while another sports a display of barbies in the garden. See a show at the long-established Studio Theatre, have a beer at one of the city’s best bars, ChurchKey, and enjoy happy hour on the patio at Commissary.
U Street/Shaw
If the music scene is your scene, then U Street is the ‘hood for you, especially if you’re still in party mode. This music mecca is the home The Howard Theatre, a historic African-American theater that now serves as a Southern supper club (complete with soul food at their Sunday gospel brunch), as well as the historic Lincoln Theatre performing arts venue. Decorated in graffiti, the streets are filled with galleries and random street performers. U Street is more affordable than other DC locales, and the public transportation situation is getting better with recent efforts.
Foggy Bottom
Just south of Dupont Circle between Georgetown and the White House is one of the oldest late 18th- and 19th-century neighborhoods in DC. The historic neighborhood of Foggy Bottom is home to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (where you can catch a free concert at Millennium Stage), The George Washington University, the infamous Watergate Hotel, and, at the southernmost end, a 2,100-acre green space called Rock Creek Park. There are plenty of fine dining options in the area, and the crime rate is lower, which means (you guessed it) the cost of living is slightly higher than the city average.
Adams Morgan
Millennials, singles, and other renters love this hip, multicultural community centered around the eclectic bars and live music venues on 18th Street. The neighborhood’s international cuisine is just as diverse as its culture, with restaurants ranging from Ethiopian to Vietnamese, plus fresh falafel from late-night Mediterranean joint Amsterdam Falafelshop. There are also plenty of amenities within walking distance. Independent bookstores like Lost City Books, cafes like Tryst Coffee, vintage boutiques, and yoga studios set up shop in brightly painted brick row houses. The Smithsonian National Zoo is less than a mile away—and it’s free!
Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights has seen a recent influx of major retailers, and as a result, the area has transformed from edgy to inviting. The diverse neighborhood in Northwest DC is now one of the best places to live in the city. A splendid panoramic view of downtown and a thriving restaurant scene doesn’t hurt either.
If you’re going to live in the city, you’re going to pay a pretty penny, but it’ll be worth it. Browse thousands of apartments for rent in DC and get your security deposit ready!
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