
U Street


Ben's Chili Bowl is world-famous
A Trader Joe’s is located on U Street for grocery runs. For dining in the shadow of history, Ben’s Chili Bowl is U Street’s world-renowned eatery, which opened in 1958. It’s well-known for serving its homemade chili and DC’s signature food, the half-smoke: a half-pork, half-beef hot dog served with chili sauce. Ben's has served several presidents and notable figures, from Duke Ellington to Martin Luther King Jr., and it has become a necessary stopping point for anyone visiting the city. Aspiring history buffs curious about U Street’s past can visit Dr. Bernard Demczuk for free history lessons every Saturday morning at Ben’s. As the official historian for the landmark dining counter and a resident of the neighboring Shaw community for over 40 years, Dr. Demczuk offers just one reminder for newcomers to the neighborhood: “Take off the horse blinders, take off the earbuds, and say hello.”
Drum at Meridian Hill Park or live music at generational venues
Harrison Playground is one of the biggest recreational spots on U Street, with a playground for children, a basketball court, a baseball field, and a water playground for hot summer days. Just north of U Street is the sprawling Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park—a peaceful place to stroll under shade trees and gaze at marble statues and fountains. Head there on Sundays to witness or even join in on the drum circles in the park, which have been a weekly tradition for over 40 years. Locals look to the African American Civil War Museum for exhibits commemorating the heroism of the United States Colored Troops and to the street-side path of illustrated historical markers as a North Star along the Greater U Street Heritage Trail. The trail, which bypasses several of the area’s thriving businesses, detours to landmarks like The Whitelaw Hotel, the former location of the famous Club Bali, and the renovated Lincoln Theatre, a 1920s neo-classical structure that once hosted legends like Nat King Cole, and still stages national acts. The esteemed Howard Theatre is another popular venue just minutes away on foot, opening in 1910. At the time, it was the biggest venue for African American musicians in the country, where Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin and James Brown performed.
U Street's nightlife draws crowds around the District
To DC locals, U Street is the place to party when the sun goes down. Nightclubs and bars line much of the street, so there will be the sound of music and dancing late at night for residents who live closest to the street. Residents can check out Harlot DC Lounge & Restaurant, a newer establishment in the building that was once the Bohemian Cavern. The Cavern was a 1920s jazz club and the cornerstone of the city’s jazz community during Black Broadway’s heyday. Harlot keeps people entertained as the Cavern once did; customers can reserve tables for everything from drag brunches to hookah sessions, and when the restaurant closes for the evening, they head downstairs to the basement speakeasy Mamasan, where guest DJs and musicians get the crowd moving.Rowhouses and condos, with colorful murals on every corner
Home values on U Street run from $375,000 for a modest, one-bedroom condo to upwards of $2 million for a well-maintained, historic rowhouse or Federal-style multi-unit property. Prospective homebuyers don’t set their sights on U Street Corridor with sprawling yards and grand estates in mind but rather time-tested brick Victorians and low-maintenance lots along the compact, urban streets of the nation’s capital. Meredith Margolis, a DC resident and Executive VP at Compass says, “One of the most exciting things about DC is the fact that we are a college town; we have Howard, GW, AU, Georgetown, UDC, Gallaudet, and Catholic University; it’s fun with all these students and energizing being around these campuses.” Howard University, one of the most recognizable HBCUs in the country, is a 5-minute walk from U Street, meaning college students regularly head to and through the corridor for a bite to eat or a place to dance.DCPS has options less than a mile from home
There are various District of Columbia Public Schools within walking distance of the neighborhood; Cleveland Elementary School is in the neighboring enclave of Shaw and is rated a B-minus on Niche. Cardozo Education Center is within the U Street area, teaches grades 6-12, and is rated a B-minus. Cardozo is also ranked as the No. 9 best school in the district for diversity.The metro stops at U Street
Locals travel by foot, car, or metro with the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station within the neighborhood. Or, they can take a WMATA bus that runs the length of U Street.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Todd Litchfield
Coldwell Banker Realty - Washington
(202) 946-4617
80 Total Sales
1 in U Street
$746,500 Price
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Dina Shaminova
TTR Sothebys International Realty
(202) 935-7595
118 Total Sales
1 in U Street
$1,057,500 Price
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Traci Johnson
Compass
(202) 856-9881
94 Total Sales
1 in U Street
$800,000 Price
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Kevin Hughes
Compass
(667) 771-3884
144 Total Sales
5 in U Street
$630K - $1.8M Price Range
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Andrew Nugent
Compass
(202) 902-8406
105 Total Sales
1 in U Street
$805,000 Price
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MJ Frazier
Serhant
(571) 556-7958
105 Total Sales
1 in U Street
$788,000 Price
Schools
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Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | U Street | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 3 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
Robbery | 6 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
U Street Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in U Street, Washington sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in U Street, Washington over the last 12 months is $305,000, down 16% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 21 - 3pm
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Wednesday, Jul 305:30 - 7pm
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Saturday, Aug 21 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
Excellent Transit
Transit 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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