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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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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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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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.
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.
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
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Parks in this Area
Petworth Recreation Center
Basketball
Soccer
Playground
Sherman Circle Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Upshur Recreation Center
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Dog Park
Grant Circle Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Emery Heights Community Center
Basketball
Football
Playground
Lorenzo “Larry” Allen Memorial Park
Trails
Petworth Meditation Garden
Transit
Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
17 min drive
Subway
Georgia Ave-Petworth
Bus
Kansas Ave NW & 9th St NW
Bus
New Hampshire Ave NW & 4th St NW
Bus
New Hampshire Ave NW & Emerson St NW
Bus
Rock Creek Church Rd NW & Allison St NW
Bus
Rock Creek Church Rd NW & Upshur St NW
Bus
Rock Creek Church Rd NW & 4th St NW
Bus
5th St NW & Gallatin St NW
Reviews
Niche Reviews
3.922 Reviews
4.0Current Resident
3/8/2021Niche Review
Nice neighborhood. The small local restaurants are really nice. Transportation is easy to use. Very diverse.
4.0Niche User
9/9/2015Niche Review
I grew up here and the environment is just amazing. It's safe and one is exposed to many different cultures due to the fact that it's the nation's capital.
3.0Current Resident
8/29/2019Niche Review
Petworth is a beautiful and charming neighborhood. Depending on the part you live in, there are many restaurants and bars within walking distance. The neighborhood is going through a rapid change and gentrification is everywhere.
5.0Niche User
6/16/2016Niche Review
My review is that it one of best environment I have ever lived at.
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Petworth
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Petworth Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Petworth, Washington sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Petworth, Washington over the last 12 months is $765,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 4620 4th Street NW, a beautifully light-filled row house on a quiet one-way street in the heart of Petworth. With classic curb appeal and a welcoming front porch, this home offers generous space across three finished levels—plus a deck, backyard, and off-street parking.Inside, you’ll find high ceilings, hardwood floors, and charming architectural details—including a tray ceiling—that
Welcome to 4311 4th Street NW a beautifully reimagined Petworth rowhome blending timeless character with smart, stylish updates across three finished levels. Original exposed brick, warm white oak flooring, and a bright, open layout set the tone, creating a home that feels both elevated and inviting.At the heart of the main level, the designer kitchen features quartz countertops, a large center
*** WETBAR INCLUDED WITH FULL PRICE OFFERWelcome to 5128 5th St NW, a fully renovated rowhome in the heart of Petworth that perfectly blends timeless design with modern comfort. This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home spans three finished levels, showcasing clean lines, warm wood floors, and high-end finishes throughout.Curb appeal is immediate with a freshly landscaped front yard and a custom stone
Spacious 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bathroom detached house in Petworth with an open floor plan flooded with natural light. NO HOA fees. FULLY Renovated in 2018 with an updated gourmet kitchen including stainless steel appliances, granite counters, glass-faced cabinets and a large island too. Upper level hosts 3 bedrooms plus 2.5 baths. The primary bedroom has an en-suite bath with double vanity sinks.
Semi-Detached Townhome | 4 Bed | 1 Bath | 2,242 Sf | 1,950 Sf Lot | Ready for Renovation | Contract Requires Probate Court ApprovalThis semi-detached row home in Petworth presents a fantastic investment opportunity for developers, long-term investors, or savvy homebuyers looking to build sweat equity. The current floor plan simplifies development, as the staircase doesn't need to be relocated.
248 Hamilton St NW, Washington, DC 20011Excellent investment opportunity in sought-after Petworth. Large semi-detached multifamily building featuring four units: two 2BR/1BA and two 1BR/1BA. The property is vacant and in good condition, ready for immediate occupancy or renovation. Situated on an oversized rear lot with a detached garage offering additional value-add potential. Zoned RA-1,
** Always Accepting the Housing Vouchers** (check DCHA limits). Show me first! Motivated Owner! First month's rent and security deposit certified, $50 app fee/person, apply online...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
Introducing New Quin! The New Hampshire and The Quincy, collectively known as New Quin, have been fabulously renovated over the past year and are now ready for you to call home. Just steps from the Petworth Metro, Safeway, CVS, The Looking Glass Bar, Chez Billy, and other conveniences, these studios, one, and two-bedroom apartments include all of the modern conveniences and amenities you would
Fully renovated, thoughtfully upgraded, and tastefully furnished from top to bottom with no expense spared, this bright and open townhouse offers modern luxury at every turn. Step inside to find elegant lighting, gleaming hardwood floors, and stylish, comfortable furnishings that create an inviting atmosphere. Smart home features throughout make daily living seamless and convenient. The gourmet
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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Lindsay Clark,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
17,511
Median Age
38
Population Density
25 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$98,008
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$134,554
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.9%
College Graduates
53.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
28.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
74.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
13''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
81/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
69/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
65/ 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.
