About
Northeast is a much overlooked quadrant of DC that has many up-and-coming neighborhoods with affordable homes, condos, and plenty of fixer-uppers in transitioning neighborhoods. Hipster destinations like NoMa (North of Massachusetts Ave.) and the H Street Corridor are trendy locales with nightlife, more affordable housing, and easy Metro access. The northern part of Capitol Hill lies within the Northeast boundary as well. The rail hub, Union Station, makes trips up and down the Eastern Seaboard convenient. Northeast is also home to the National Arboretum and Gallaudet University (a renowned school for the deaf), and the Motown icon, Marvin Gaye, grew up in Deanwood.
The area is rich in African-American history and there are some areas east of the Anacostia River that have morphed from plantations into some of the city’s first majority African American communities. The diversity that exists here has unfortunately led to some unfair categorizations but there are many gems to be discovered in Northeast!
Neighbors
DC residents are usually typified as active and outdoorsy, and Northeast residents are no different. The neighborhoods are walkable and most people rely on buses and the Metro for getting around town. Northeast tends to be less transient than other DC areas, with generations of families occupying the same house or calling one neighborhood home. Newcomers are mixing it up though, and younger professionals and students are migrating from Northwest to Northeast for the more affordable housing options and the vibrant personality of the neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Feel
As with the other quadrants, you’ll find more densely populated neighborhoods closer to the Capitol. Home prices drop and square footage increases as you travel away from the heart of DC. Northeast does have some lower income areas and has a reputation for higher crime rates, so do your research before buying or renting. East of The River, you’ll see more green spaces, but that comes with a vacuum of retail and restaurant options.
