Columbia Heights
Urban Core Neighborhood in Washington, District of Columbia
District of Columbia 20001, 20009, 20010
Neighborhood Reviews
Locals can head to major retailers close to home at the D.C. USA Mall
The D.C. USA Mall is a large, mixed-use retail center along 14th Street in Columbia Heights. It's built on the site of an old Romanesque Revival streetcar garage, which was used when public trolleys dominated city streets from the 1860s to the early 1960s. Diggs says, “They have a Target, which is a big deal in a major metropolitan area; those amenities are not common in D.C.” Familiar retailers like Marshall's, Target and Old Navy anchor this mall. There's also a Lidl and Giant nearby for groceries. A couple blocks north of the mall are unique restaurants like Thip Khao, serving traditional Laotian cuisine, with curry noodles and fried catfish for entrees and laab, chopped meat with vegetables and aromatic spices. There's also Tequila & Mezcal, a Mexican diner with birria tacos and tart taramindo margaritas. A block south of Columbia Heights is the famous U Street Corridor, a nightlife destination for the whole city. U Street was once the heart of D.C.'s jazz scene, and that spirit is kept alive through the vibrant nightclubs on either side; in venues like Lyve @ U, Pure Lounge and Cloak and Dagger, locals can get drinks and dance to live music. Residents can also pick up fresh produce and other handcrafted goods at the FreshFarm Columbia Heights Farmer's Market, open year-round on Sunday mornings at Civic Plaza, a small park on 14th Street.Columbia Heights is filled with high-rise condos and Victorian rowhouses
Home values range from $250,000 to $1.6 million, varying by square footage and age. Diggs says that “There are rentals and some condos, there’s lots of folks who start their [homeowning] process here because of the condo inventory. There’s also rowhouses and multi-unit properties for people seeking investment opportunities.” High-rise condos run from $250,000 for a studio or one-bedroom to $1.3 million for luxury three-bedroom units with over 1,000 square feet. Victorian rowhouses stretch from $600,000 to well above $1.5 million and usually start with three bedrooms or more. Since this is one of the city's most densely populated neighborhoods, detached single-family homes are harder to come by on the market.Residents can stroll through Piney Branch Park to the north or Meridian Hill Park to the south
Columbia Heights hosts Meridian Hill Park to the southwest, locally called Malcolm X Park, and stands as one of the most ambitious examples of a 20th-century Neoclassical-style Park, with fountains and Italian gardens to create the feeling of walking through the Renaissance era. Locals congregate here on Sundays for drum circles, a tradition that's been going on for over 40 years. The modest Powell Recreation Center features a children's playground, a soccer field and tennis courts. The Smithsonian Zoo is a mile west of Columbia Heights and is regionally renowned for its in-depth exhibits. Visitors can see orangutans climbing overhead on the O-Line, a system of cables hanging over the zoo that the primates can use to climb between their enclosures. Residents can access D.C.'s premier green space, Rock Creek Park, through a trail in Piney Branch Park, a couple blocks north of the neighborhood border. Rock Creek Park stretches from Northwest D.C. deep into Montgomery County, Maryland, and is a popular destination for hikers and bikers in the region.Tubman Elementary School offers education as well as farm-fresh food
Columbia Heights students will attend D.C. public schools such as Tubman Elementary School and Cardozo Education Campus, which both have B-minus overall ratings on Niche, while Columbia Heights Education Campus teaches grades 6-12; and has a B-plus overall rating. Tubman Elementary has a unique bilingual curriculum, after-school yoga, and its own farmer's market on Wednesdays, partnering with several regional farms to provide fresh produce and preserves for neighborhood families.Columbia Heights metro station connects residents to Downtown in minutes
Residents can take the Green Line bound Columbia Heights metro station to the government employers of Downtown D.C. within 20 minutes or drive south along 16th Street to get there in 2 miles. Metrobuses run down main streets like 16th Street, 14th Street and 11th Street for more public transit options.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Photography Contributed By
Joseph Furio
Video By
Adam Lapallo
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Edward Vasquez
Edward Vasquez
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
(240) 905-4866
93 Total Sales
2 in Columbia Heights
$575K - $1.1M Price Range
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Brian MacGregor
Brian MacGregor
RLAH @properties
(703) 775-4954
14 Total Sales
1 in Columbia Heights
$48,300 Price
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Jennifer Vaughan
Jennifer Vaughan
Responds QuicklyCompass
(202) 875-5259
53 Total Sales
5 in Columbia Heights
$414K - $1.2M Price Range
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Muller Dessie
Muller Dessie
EXP Realty, LLC
(240) 690-5493
151 Total Sales
1 in Columbia Heights
$700,000 Price
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Bronwyn Scott
Bronwyn Scott
Samson Properties
(202) 849-9767
44 Total Sales
1 in Columbia Heights
$535,000 Price
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Deirdre Fricke
Deirdre Fricke
Compass
(628) 213-8292
47 Total Sales
1 in Columbia Heights
$540,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
11th and Monroe Street Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Columbia Heights Dog Park
- Dog Park
- Trails
Girard Street Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Powell Recreation Center
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Tennis
Meridian Hill Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
14th and Girard Street Park
- Basketball
- Trails
Transit
Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
14 min drive
Subway
Columbia Heights
Bus
Florida Ave NW & 11th St NW
Bus
14th St NW & Clifton St NW
Bus
14th St NW & Irving St NW
Bus
11th St NW & Park Rd NW
Bus
11th St NW & Harvard St NW
Bus
14th St NW & Newton St NW
Reviews
Niche Reviews
6/10/2015
Niche Review
You get all the seasons here, from summer to winter to fall and sometimes in between.
7/21/2014
Niche Review
Train and bus station for inner and interstate travel is close by and there is an airline, it is just far away.
4/23/2020
Niche Review
Columbia Heights is a good neighborhood to see historical landmarks , it has many stores in walking distance. As well as okay schools, where students can get a good education. Columbia Heights is a very diverse neighborhood, and includes people from all over.
9/20/2014
Niche Review
A lot of variety in places to eat and also in places to shop are nearby.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Columbia Heights | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Columbia Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Columbia Heights, Washington sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Columbia Heights, Washington over the last 12 months is $575,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$455,450
Median Sale Price
$575,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$395,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$590,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$630,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
233
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
15%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$332
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,719
Number of Homes for Sale
6
Median Year Built
1912
Months of Supply
0.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,037
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,884
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,009
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
631
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
374
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Aug 31 - 3pm
-
Sunday, Aug 312 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
25,403
Median Age
35
Population Density
62 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
9%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$91,376
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$126,732
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.1%
College Graduates
65%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
36.9%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
81.2%
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®
92
/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
83
/ 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.
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