$2,536,136Average Value$700Average Price per Sq Ft15Homes For Sale
A weapon testing site turned desirable D.C. neighborhood
Now considered one of Washington, D.C.,’s most prestigious neighborhoods, Spring Valley was once vital to the United States' chemical weapons program. Neighboring American University partnered with the Army to test lewisite, mustard gas and arsenic here during World War I. When the project was over, the remnants were buried, and the land sat empty until real estate developing group The W.C. and A.N. Miller Company purchased the hilly terrain in 1928. Over the next few decades, people like Warren Buffet, Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush moved into the area's stately homes. Today, the community remains popular with politicians and embassy ambassadors thanks to its central yet quiet location. “We’re 5 miles from The White House and downtown D.C., but it feels we live in our own little town,” says Lydia Benson, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate who has lived in Spring Valley for over 30 years. “Houses have huge yards, and it’s super walkable to so many locally owned shops and restaurants.” Locals can walk to the neighborhood shopping centers for dinner and groceries or head to American University to enjoy the art museum and use the recreation centers.
A row of brick colonials on 49th St NW in Spring Valley.
A modern style home next to a French Colonial style home in Spring Valley.
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Spring Valley has historic revival homes on large lots
Homes built between the 1920s and ‘90s dot Spring Valley’s curved, sidewalk-lined streets. Stone retaining walls surround Georgian Revivals, often atop hilly, quarter-to-half-acre lots. Hedges and mature white oak trees cover the front lawns of Tudor Revivals. Staircases lead to 4,000-square-foot Colonial Revivals, usually made of red brick. Houses tend to have four to seven bedrooms and one-car garages, though street parking is still common. Prices tend to be higher than D.C.’s average $600,000 selling price, ranging from $1.8 million to $4 million, regardless of age and number of bedrooms. Despite the neighborhood’s proximity to American University, Benson says there’s no student population here. “It’s too expensive. Nobody wants to rent a $2 million house to a college kid.”
A row of brick colonials on 49th St NW in Spring Valley.
Large Tudor's and Colonials make up most of the homes in Spring Valley.
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A neighborhood hiking path and the Capital Crescent Trail
On Quebec Street NW, Spring Valley Park offers a half-mile hiking trail shaded by hardwood trees. The dirt path stretches alongside Spring Valley Run, a rocky creek maintained by neighborhood volunteers. “It used to just be a forest, but, in 2023, a bunch of neighbors got together and cleaned all the debris out of the creek and made the trail,” Benson says. “Now everybody walks their dog there, and kids play around the creek.” About a mile east of the neighborhood, the creek crosses the D.C.-Maryland border and dumps into the 50-acre Dalecarlia Reservoir, which supplies water to D.C. and Arlington County. Locals can hike or bike around the reservoir and ride the Capital Crescent Trail, an 11-mile-long pedestrian commuter route running from Georgetown to Bethesda, Maryland. Capital Crescent is also accessible 2 miles south of the neighborhood along the banks of the Potomac River. The 184-mile Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath is in the same area. Once trekked by mules tugging boats along the water, the dirt and gravel route extends from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland.
Spring Valley Park has trails to walk your dog along.
Biking through Capital Crescent Trail
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D.C. Public School's newest high school
Children can attend Horace Mann Elementary School and Hardy Middle School, which both earn A grades from Niche. They may continue to MacArthur High School, which opened in 2023 and has yet to be graded by Niche. The high school offers pathway programs in computer science, computer maintenance and aeronautic engineering.
Horace Mann Elementary School is a top rated school in nearby Wesley Heights.
MacArthur High School is brand new as of 2024 and has an aeronautic engineering program.
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Walking, swimming and an art museum at American University
Founded in 1893, American University is just east of the neighborhood. The private school offers 71 undergraduate degree programs, including political science, international affairs and business administration. While the 90-acre campus bustles with students, Bensons says locals also keep the space lively. “We go on walks through the campus at night and go to the art museum all the time. My kids even took swimming lessons at the aquatic center when they were little. The school really welcomes us.” Walks often involve crossing the Eric Friedheim Quad, which is surrounded by Hurst Hall, the neoclassical-style college of history, and Bender Library, the brutalist-style library. Abstract paintings and student art fill the Katzen Art Center, located in a curvilinear contemporary building made of limestone. Non-students can get memberships to use the Jacobs Fitness Center, the Reeves Aquatic Center and the open gym times at Bender Arena.
American University's Katzen Arts Center brings all the visual and performing arts programs.
Students hurry to class in the ever-busy American University neighborhood.
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Accessibility to downtown D.C., the Capital Beltway and the Red Line
Though Spring Valley is walkable, it’s also conveniently located for several types of travel. A less than 5-mile drive southeast on Massachusetts Avenue NW leads to downtown D.C. “It can take about 30 minutes to get downtown, which may seem like a long time, but that’s actually considered a pretty quick commute around here,” Benson says. Several Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus stops line Massachusetts Avenue NW. The closest on-ramp for Interstate 495, locally called The Capital Beltway, is 6 miles northwest. Tenleytown-AU is the nearest Metro station, a mile and a half east. It follows the Red Line, typically reaching Union Station in 25 minutes. Sibley Memorial Hospital is less than a mile west of the neighborhood, and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is about 8 miles south.
Groceries from Wagshal’s, drinks and dinner at Millie’s
A few medical offices and two namesake retail strips sit along Massachusetts Avenue in the neighborhood’s eastern area. Wine bottles, a deli and a bakery fill Wagshal’s, a D.C.-local gourmet grocery store in the Colonial Revival-style Spring Valley Shopping Center. Across the street, Spring Valley Village has a Crate & Barrel and a few locally owned restaurants. In the morning, folks walk to Compass Coffee, a swanky local chain, for lattes and pastries, and they often head to Millie’s for lunch and dinner. “You’ll almost always see one of your neighbors at Millie’s. Especially during the summer, when their fabulous little patio opens. It’s the neighborhood hangout spot.” Garage door-style windows go up as patrons eat fish tacos and lobster rolls on picnic tables shaded by dark blue patio umbrellas. Adults can sip frosé and margaritas, and kids can order waffle cones piled high with flavors like blueberry and salted caramel from the ice cream window. Major grocery stores, like Whole Foods Market and Wegmans, are about 2 miles east on Wisconsin Avenue. Upscale restaurants and national retailers, including Lululemon and Sephora, line Georgetown’s M Street NW, about 4 miles south of the neighborhood.
Wagshal's has an in house bakery and a meat counter, plus an assortment of specialty goods.
Millie's has excellent fish tacos and a large outdoor patio with seating.
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Remnants of Spring Valley’s chemical weapon testing past
In 1993, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dug up unexploded chemical mortar rounds from the neighborhood’s stint as a testing facility. The subsequent clean-up and excavation lasted several years, ultimately ending in 2020, but the neighborhood’s soil is still tested regularly. A few years after the initial discovery, some residents attempted to sue the U.S. government, citing that the chemicals gave them cancer and other diseases. However, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted medical screenings on residents in 2001 and concluded that chemical levels were too low to create widespread health issues. There have been no health studies on residents since then. Benson says community concern about the chemicals has lessened over time. “We’re all aware of the issue. Nobody is as concerned about it as we were in the ‘90s, and it certainly hasn’t made the neighborhood any less desirable.”
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.
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to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Spring Valley
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Spring Valley Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Spring Valley, Washington sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Spring Valley, Washington over the last 12 months is $2,500,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enchanting cottage-style stone home captures the essence of the bucolic English countryside, offering a perfect blend of charm and modern convenience. With two spacious bedrooms and two well-appointed ensuite bathrooms conveniently located on the main level, plus a lower-level den with half-bath, this residence is designed for easy living.Step inside to discover a warm and inviting atmosphere,
This elegant grand stone residence, reconstructed in 2014, is on a gated .38-acre lot. It is desirably located and has commanding street presence. The house exemplifies luxurious living with over 10,000 square feet of expertly crafted interior living space, featuring high ceiling and large scaled rooms. This luxurious home features a convenient, modern elevator with access to all floors, offering
Spring Valley is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Washington DC. Located behind American University, Spring Valley Apartments are nestled beneath the tall trees of American University Park and Spring Valley. Built in 1936, these apartments offer traditional layouts with in-home W/D and restored antique wood floors. With only four apartments per building, your home is well cared for and
Beautifully renovated home situated on an expansive, private lot. The main level features a spacious gourmet eat-in kitchen with an adjacent butler’s office, a separate laundry room, and a mudroom. The large yard includes a detached three-car garage and an additional parking pad.The primary suite offers two generous walk-in closets and a luxurious en-suite bathroom with a soaking tub, separate
***Available August 15, 2025. Only about 4-minute walk from the AU satellite campus, AU Shuttle, bus stop, shops, restaurants, Starbucks, Compass Coffee and many other amenities - Only rooms 1 & 2 are available. BUS TO DOWNTOWN DC & DUPONT! Location!!! Spacious Room Available for RentOnly 4-minute walk from AU Shuttle.Very Close to AU Main Campus!2 Large mirrored closets covering
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,044
Median Age
49
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
28.5%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$233,696
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$218,718
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
92.6%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
76.6%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
55.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
13''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
41/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
15/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
38/ 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.
