The ornate Friendship Archway marks the entrance into Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown. The structure, unveiled in 1986, serves as a dedication to the relationship between DC and Beijing and is a defining feature of this historic community. While Asian influence can still be found across Chinatown—in the food, the street art and business signs—today, the neighborhood is well-known as a destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. “It’s a community that has everything from the Capital One Arena to great restaurants,” says Thais Austin, a real estate agent with Long & Foster who has sold several homes in the area. “It’s close to the museums and the National Mall. Convenience is the main appeal of the neighborhood.” Residents of this urban neighborhood can step out of their front door and be seated at a restaurant in just seconds. Sporting events bring excitement and energy into the area several nights a week during basketball and hockey season. When it comes to being in the center of the action, it’s hard to find a neighborhood with more going on than Chinatown.
Exotic flavors from local restaurants
Chinatown residents have access to some of the best dining destinations in Washington, D.C. Residents can dine on ramen at DAIKAYA, a casual Japanese restaurant with two floors serving a variety of soups and other dishes. On the opposite end of the spectrum is minibar by Jose Andres, a fine dining restaurant with two Michelin stars. Residents can take in sunset views of the Washington Monument from the Crimson View rooftop bar before heading downstairs to the basement Crimson Whiskey Bar, which serves more than 150 types of bourbon, cocktails, beer and wine. Of course, the neighborhood is also home to plenty of popular Chinese restaurants, including Tony Cheng, famous for its dim sum and Mongolian barbecue. Residents can easily find ingredients for cooking at home as well. “It’s close to grocery stores and farmers markets. There are three farmers markets in the area, and they’re all on different days,” says Austin. The closest farmers market is FRESHFARM Mount Vernon Triangle, which is open on Saturdays year-round. There is also a Safeway supermarket just north on 5th Street, less than a half-mile walk from the neighborhood.
High-rise homes in Chinatown
Most homes in Chinatown are condos, often in high-rise buildings. There is a mix of older and newer buildings throughout the neighborhood. The ones that have been around a while usually have brick and stone exteriors, while the newer condo buildings have sleek exteriors mostly made up of windows. Most condos in the neighborhood come with rooftop patios that include grills and sometimes a swimming pool. Some buildings have more amenities like fitness centers, bike storage and parking spots available to residents. Most units in the neighborhood are two bedrooms and cost around $500,000. There are some one-bedroom units that cost between $300,000 and $500,000.
Cheer on the Caps and Wizards
Living in Chinatown puts residents just a few blocks from some of the most exciting events in the nation’s capital. Residents can cheer on the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. The arena also hosts world-class concerts by artists like Zach Bryan, Nicki Minaj, and Olivia Rodrigo. The National Portrait Gallery is just 0.3 miles south of the neighborhood and houses portraits of influential Americans, including celebrities, presidents and other politicians. Residents can view many more monuments and museums at the National Mall, just 1 mile south of the neighborhood.
Enjoy the sunshine on the National Mall
There are a few small green spaces nearby for residents to get outside. Chinatown Park is a small triangular green space with trees and an open space. Milan Park across the street is the location of the Mount Vernon Triangle Market and is another small triangular park. Along with the museums and monuments, the National Mall offers plenty of walking paths and room for recreation, with open green spaces and multiple baseball diamonds for residents to use.
Moving through DC on the Metro
The Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station provides residents with easy access to public transit. “While a lot of the people who live in Chinatown have cars, I think their day-to-day activities are predominantly done by walking or public transit,” says Nate Guggenheim, a sales associate with Washington Fine Properties who has sold several homes downtown. Residents can access the Red Line here, which runs east to west through the city. The Green and Yellow lines also pass through the station, taking riders north to south. There are several bus stops throughout the neighborhood for residents who prefer to ride the bus.
Preparing for the future at Dunbar High
Students in Chinatown might attend Walker-Jones Education Campus for kindergarten through eighth grade and Dunbar High School for ninth through 12th grade. Each school receives a C overall rating from Niche. Dunbar serves approximately 700 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. The school has academies in engineering, sports management and law and public service.
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The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Penthouse-Level Condo in Prime Chinatown Location – Ideal for Investors or Owner-Occupants!Welcome to this stylish top-floor condo in the heart of Chinatown. Featuring a spacious, sunlit layout with rustic barn doors and a skylight that fills the living space with natural light, this home effortlessly combines charm and modern appeal.The well-equipped kitchen boasts premium
3 bedroom, 3 den, 4 bath house2 master suite, 1 extra bedroom, and 3 dens in this Grand Home.One block from Gallery Metro Station, Verizon CenterRented Furnished or Unfurnished The house is in the heart of DC Chinatown/ Gallery Place. Available 8/1/25
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
298
Median Age
39
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
13.8%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$120,380
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$147,028
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.4%
College Graduates
60.6%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
13''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
98/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
