Petworth is a coveted landing spot in central D.C. for its lower-than-average price range, its corridor of unique restaurants and shops, locally known as "the block," and its several popular city parks. Residents live steps away from President Lincoln's summer cottage and bond through numerous community events. Neighbors frequently chat from their open porches, a common feature in many homes. "Even with a population of roughly 42,000 people, Petworth is still the type of place where you walk down the street and see familiar faces every day," says Drew Schneider, Founder and Head Writer for Petworth News, the online neighborhood newsletter.
Georgia Ave NW runs through Petworth, and is lined with shops and restaurants.
A line of row homes on the edge of Grant Circle Park in Petworth.
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Upshur Park has basketball courts, while President Lincoln's cottage is to the east
Petworth is bordered to the east by President Abraham Lincoln's cottage, a museum and historic landmark. This Gothic Revival home was where Lincoln resided away from the White House between 1862 and 1864. Here, he would meet with wounded soldiers and Union Army leadership, and develop the Emancipation Proclamation. Folks can tour the home and walk the 250 acres of land surrounding it. D.C.'s "wheel-and-spokes" street design causes many traffic circles to pop up in central city neighborhoods. Sherman Circle Park and Grant Circle Park are modest roundabout green spaces within Petworth, named for Union generals William Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant. The small triangular Petworth Meditation Garden opened in 2018 and is a park for locals to walk dogs and do outdoor yoga steps from home. Piney Branch Park has picnic tables and hiking and cycling trails to the west of the neighborhood. Piney Branch's trails lead to the much bigger Rock Creek Park, D.C.'s largest green space stretching from Northwest D.C. deep into Montgomery County, Maryland. There are also community institutions like Raymond Recreation Center and Playground, with an indoor fitness center and multipurpose room, and a turf field and playground outside.
Petworth residents can take a stroll through Grant Circle Park.
Upshur Dog Park is a popular space for petworth dog owners to take their pets.
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Petworth has a variety of diners at "the block"
Locals head to "the block," a shopping and dining district on Upshur Street NW, between 8th and 9th Streets. City-loved Honeymoon Chicken is a fast-casual diner serving honey-dusted fried chicken tenders, sandwiches, and bone-in buckets. The rustic Cinder Barbecue offers smoked beef brisket and dry-rubbed wings. Cinder also partners with several local distilleries and provides a wide selection of whiskies. Folks can have an elegant dinner at San Matteo, featuring authentic Italian dishes and a dining area with wall-to-ceiling windows. A renovated Safeway runs along U.S. Route 29 for groceries. 14th Street NW also hosts many restaurants, shops and bars and sits west of Petworth.
Honeymoon in Petworth is known for its fried chicken and other southern-style cooking.
Cinder BBQ is a new addition to Petworth, and serves excellent DC style BBQ.
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Popular townhouses and smaller single-family options
Home values range from $525,000 to $1.28 million in Petworth. Prices here run lower than average for a central D.C. neighborhood; it's more affordable than more densely populated neighborhoods like Columbia Heights to the south. Paul Marston, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate, notes that homes get priced a little lower the farther northwest buyers look. It's popular in Petworth to flip houses as homebuyers look to renovate and expand older properties. Boutique condos dot the boundary lines, but many of the homes in Petworth are Roaring 20s-era rowhouses with front porches and columns. "There is a section that has single-family homes, but most of the area is townhouses with backyards and driveways; some come with alley-street parking as well," adds Marston. The community's lot sizes are quaint, but every extra square foot counts when living in a densely packed city neighborhood.
Like in the rest of DC, the row homes in Petworth tend to be multicolored.
Even the most humble row homes fetch a high price in this desirable DC neighborhood.
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D.C. Public Schools are near Petworth
"There's been an effort to offer improved educational services in Petworth so that homebuyers feel more comfortable putting down roots in the area," says Schneider. The community has a large campus to the west, where several public schools are located. Powell Elementary School has a B-rating on Niche, while MacFarland Middle is rated a C-plus and Roosevelt S.T.A.Y Opportunity Academy has a C-rating. Roosevelt High is one of three Opportunity Academies in the District of Columbia. These schools offer nontraditional settings for students who may benefit from it to ensure success and advancement to postsecondary studies. Students at Roosevelt can take Advanced Placement classes in English, Chemistry and World History or take career courses in barbering and cosmetology or culinary arts. The neighborhood is also home to several charter options, including Washington Latin Public Charter School, E.L. Haynes and Center City Public Charter School. The private Catholic University of America, or CUA, is also less than 2 miles east of Petworth.
Macfarland Middle School receives a C+ from Niche.com
Roosevelt Highschool is one of DC's three opportunity academies.
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Live music at Celebrate Petworth and Petworth PorchFest
Community engagement is at the core of Petworth's character. The neighborhood boasts a strong porch culture, making front-door meetups and neighborly greetings a regular occurrence. When it's warm outside, residential streets transform into an intimate concert venue, with front stoops converting into mainstages. The volunteer-run spring festival, Petworth PorchFest, invites local bands to jam out on the steps of neighborhood houses. On Saturdays from May until November, residents file into the Petworth Community Market to grab locally sourced produce and goods. The Celebrate Petworth Festival, held in September, attracts thousands of attendees from every corner of the district. The festivities include live music, dancing, art exhibitions and dog shows.
The Petworth/Georgia Avenue Metro connects Petworth residents to the rest of DC.
Green Line metro access, while Upshur Street is bikeable
Downtown D.C.'s major employers are a 3-mile drive south of Petworth down 16th Street NW. The Georgia Avenue-Petworth metro station is at the neighborhood's south end and offers Green Line access through the District and Prince George's County, Maryland. Defined bike lanes are available along major neighborhood roads like Upshur Street NW, alongside local restaurants and shops. Several Capital BikeShare stations are also in Petworth for public cycling options.
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
I've been living in the Petworth area with my family for six years. The schools are pretty decent in this area, and the traveling times vary based on traffic conditions. I love the variety of eateries my part of town boasts. You can have almost any type of cuisine for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
4.0Current Resident
4/23/2018Niche Review
Nice bars, close to shopping, close to metro. Just outside the bubble of SUPER high rents that you get even one metro stop closer to downtown DC.
3.0Niche User
6/16/2016Niche Review
I think it can be a little better
5.0Current Resident
1/12/2019Niche Review
I love that Petworth is an area for middle-class diverse families and that it's a up and coming neighborhood. It has varieties of local markets and food options. It is also a neighborhood I grew up in which I have seen make drastic changes with living in the neighborhood , My community have experienced many changes with race and gentrification but it doesn't take away unique background.
Are you familiar with the Petworth neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Petworth
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Petworth Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Petworth, Washington sell after 55 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Petworth, Washington over the last 12 months is $720,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this beautifully updated 3BR/3.5BA Petworth gem, where classic DC charm meets thoughtful modern living.Set on a quiet, tree-lined street, this bright and inviting home features an open main level with warm natural light, wood floors, and stylish finishes throughout. The powder room showcases wallpaper by Josef Frank of the iconic Swedish design house Svenskt Tenn — a standout
Welcome to 417 Emerson Street NW, a character-filled and thoughtfully renovated row home on one of Petworth’s most beloved blocks. This isn’t just a house—it’s part of a true community, where front-porch conversations and neighborly connection define daily life. Set on an extra-deep lot—nearly twice the length of most in the area— this property offers exceptional outdoor space, including new sod,
Welcome to 113 Hamilton Street NW- a turnkey home within walking distance of Metro, featuring one of the finest outdoor spaces in Brightwood Park/Petworth. Inside, natural light fills the open main level, creating an inviting flow from the living area to the dining space and kitchen. The kitchen includes marble countertops, updated stainless steel appliances, a gas range, white cabinetry, and a
Beautifully renovated 4BR/3.5BA traditional brick rowhome in the heart of Petworth. This spacious home blends classic architecture with modern updates and sits on a generous lot in one of D.C.’s most vibrant, community-oriented neighborhoods.The main level features an open-concept floor plan with hardwood floors and ample natural light. The large kitchen is equipped with stainless steel
Another beautiful renovation of a Petworth classic row home by Mantanzas LLC! The main level features a traditional layout with defined living spaces, but updated with a modern flow. Gorgeous hardwoods throughout. New, energy efficient windows. Kitchen is central to the main level with custom maple cabinets, quartz countertops and stainless appliances. Large dining area opens to the back deck -
***MOTIVATED SELLERS are NOW offering 2/1 BUYDOWN assistance! Contact agent immediately for details!*** Stylish Pet-Friendly 2BD/2BA | Secure PARKING | Large Back Yard + Private Front Patio | Walkable Petworth Location | Built in 2022, this beautiful modern condo has three private entrances and a large, grassy, fully-fenced back yard for gathering, grilling, and chilling. The five-star kitchen
SHORT TERM LEASES ONLY -- Welcome home to this Well cared for & beautifully maintained semi-detached 3 Level 4 bedroom + 3.5 BA Row house. Look down the tree lined street and stroll up to the cozy Front porch to enjoy a fenced in front yard. Enter the main level to see a wide open floor plan with LVRM, DNRM & NICELY UPDATED KITCHEN: Featuring Granite Countertops, NICE CABINETS, Stainless
This Unit Shows Extremely Well!Welcome to The Jefferson House, Unit #101! This impeccably maintained one-bedroom condo offers comfortable living in the heart of the Petworth neighborhood. Situated in a modern boutique building, it's conveniently located between the Georgia Ave. and Tacoma Park metro stations, placing you just moments away from dining and entertainment options.Apply
Welcome to 22 Kennedy NW, a vibrant apartment community nestled in the heart of Washington, DC. This stylish residential oasis offers modern living with all the conveniences you desire. Our thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom apartments feature open floor plans, large windows that fill each space with natural light, and high-quality finishes. Enjoy the sleek, contemporary kitchen
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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.
