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Arboretum

Arboretum

Neighborhood in Washington, District of Columbia

District of Columbia 20002

$603,642 Average Value
$334 Average Price per Sq Ft
1 Home For Sale

Small residential enclave surrounded by one of D.C.'s biggest botanical gardens

Arboretum is the small community bordering the National Arboretum, a flourishing 440-acre botanical garden featuring over 1,600 species of trees. It’s a must-go destination for the District’s nature lovers, and Arboretum residents have the best possible access to it right from their sidewalks. Mandy Hursen, a real estate agent with RLAH @ Properties and Arboretum resident for over 20 years, says, “It really feels like a suburb in the city; there are only 65 detached homes in the area, with good sized yards. There’s a residential entrance to the Arboretum in the neighborhood as well.”

A row of cottages on 24th St NE in Arboretum.
A row of cottages on 24th St NE in Arboretum.
Arboretum is a small neighborhood sandwiched between Bladensburg Rd NE and the Arboretum itself.
Arboretum is a small neighborhood sandwiched between Bladensburg Rd NE and the Arboretum itself.
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Have the National Arboretum in the backyard

Right at the neighborhood’s doorstep, the National Arboretum is home to an awe-inspiring azalea garden, magnolia groves and the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Some of the Arboretum’s oldest trees are two weeping Japanese cherry trees that have been tirelessly maintained for over seventy years and still stand at the entrance to the National Herb Garden. The D.C. landmark Capitol Columns, an Atlas Obscura favorite, tower over the Ellipse Meadow, mimicking ancient ruins while serving as a prime wedding shoot and an all-around popular spot for photos. The Washington Youth Garden allows kids to explore nature and learn about sustainability. Nearby, Kenilworth continues the Arboretum’s green theme with the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a national park dedicated to water plant life. Located at the edge of a cul-de-sac, Arboretum Community Center just received a $10 million renovation of its field house. It provides basketball and tennis courts, a fitness center, a pool, a community garden, and an amphitheater.

Visit the popular National Columns in the middle of the National Arboretum.
Visit the popular National Columns in the middle of the National Arboretum.
The National Arboretum has paths, fields and woodlands in addition to manicured gardens.
The National Arboretum has paths, fields and woodlands in addition to manicured gardens.
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Friends of the National Arboretum host annual events

As a citywide landmark, the National Arboretum draws crowds with special events year-round. “There’s an annual plant sale and a Christmas market with vendors,” Hursen says. There’s Dinner under the Stars, which is a fundraiser for the Arboretum with music and food. Full moon Hikes and Forest Bathing are also big events there.” The nonprofit Friends of the National Arboretum, or FONA, hosts several events, from a garden sale in the Herb Garden to Music in the Meadow, an evening concert, or Dinner under the Stars at night.

Schools groups from all over DC are a common sight in the Arboretum.
Schools groups from all over DC are a common sight in the Arboretum.
Beautiful scenery is no stranger to the National Arboretum.
Beautiful scenery is no stranger to the National Arboretum.
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Midcentury bungalows and Cape Cods, with apartment options for renters

Home values in Arboretum range from $450,000 to $1 million for modest two-bedroom bungalows, cottages and Cape Cods or a larger five-bedroom colonial-style house. Most of the properties in Arboretum were built in the 1930s and ‘40s when the area was originally sectioned and planned out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are slightly more renters than homeowners in Arboretum, thanks to its brick condos and garden-style apartment complexes like Parkway Plaza, which was built around the 1960s. Trees and shrubs remind residents of the massive garden space that lies to the north and south, but plantings are spread out to allow houses to be bathed in natural light. Arboretum’s small size makes for a tight-knit and easily accessible community – residential streets are lined with sidewalks so that locals can walk through the neighborhood on foot. Crosswalks at street intersections add to the area’s walkability.

Bungalows with large porches like these on 22nd St NE are very common in Arboretum.
Bungalows with large porches like these on 22nd St NE are very common in Arboretum.
Two-story homes with gabled roofs and covered porches on Rand Pl NE.
Two-story homes with gabled roofs and covered porches on Rand Pl NE.
Parkway Plaza is an apartment complex located in the Arboretum neighborhood.
Parkway Plaza is an apartment complex located in the Arboretum neighborhood.
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DCPS schools close to home

Students attend District of Columbia Public schools, including Langdon Elementary School, rated a B on Niche. Langdon focuses on the STEAM curriculum and offers a Montessori-based early childhood program. Sixth through eighth graders attend McKinley Middle School, with a C-plus rating, where students can join the chess club or NEMO, a marine sciences and oceanography club. To finish out, Arboretum students can learn at the C-rated Dunbar Senior High School. Dunbar High teaches five academies in different concentrations: leadership, bioscience and engineering, law and public policy, Black studies, and sports management.

Mckinley Middle School shares a campus with Mckinley Technology High School.
Mckinley Middle School shares a campus with Mckinley Technology High School.
Dunbar High School features modern facilities for students in Washington, DC.
Dunbar High School features modern facilities for students in Washington, DC.
Langdon Elementary School in Washington, DC.
Langdon Elementary School in Washington, DC.
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Retail within minutes of Arboretum, or Echostage for a night out

The neighborhood has no retail stores or restaurants thanks to its sliver of residential streets and its closeness to the National Arboretum. The Shops at Dakota Crossing have big-box retailers like Lowe’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods, as well as D.C.’s only Costco Warehouse for bulk grocery needs. THRoW Social DC in Ivy City mixes food and drinks with outdoor entertainment and games amid a cabana-themed décor for a night out with friends. There's also MOM's Organic Market for nearby groceries, and fast casual dining at Miza for Mediterranean shawarma. Hit the bullseye at Kick Axe, a hatchet-throwing venue with a bar. Try one of D.C.’s largest music venues, Echostage, just a block north of Arboretum, for a night of drinks and live music.

Dick's Sporting Goods in the Fort Lincoln Shopping Center located near Arboretum.
Dick's Sporting Goods in the Fort Lincoln Shopping Center located near Arboretum.
Starbucks and other national chains fill The Fort Lincoln Shopping Center Near Arboretum.
Starbucks and other national chains fill The Fort Lincoln Shopping Center Near Arboretum.
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Crime

Potential homebuyers should be advised that this neighborhood has a 7 out of 10 score on the CAP Crime Index, but there is the Fifth District DCPD Police Station at the north end of Arboretum.

The Arboretum neighborhood gets it's name from the US National Arboretum.
The Arboretum neighborhood gets it's name from the US National Arboretum.

Drive to Capitol Hill in 3 miles

Hursen says Arboretum locals are about a 10-minute drive to Capitol Hill, with no traffic. A straight shot less than 3 miles on Bladensburg Road NE leads to downtown D.C. The nearest metro station is Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood, 2 miles west, but WMATA buses run down Bladensburg Road for closer public access to more centralized government employers downtown.

Maxwell Olarinde
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Jack Adams
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
Alex Jacobsen
Video By
Alex Jacobsen

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Margaret Babbington, an experienced agent in this area.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl

21 min drive

Bus

Bladensburg Rd NE & Mt Olivet Rd NE

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Arboretum US
Homicide 8 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 7 4
Robbery 8 4
Burglary 7 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 7 4
Larceny 6 4
Crime Score 7 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$807,000
Median Single Family Price
$800,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$334
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Last 12 months Home Sales
5
Months of Supply
2.40
Median List Price
$803,500
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
27%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
84
Median Year Built
1936
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,511
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,920

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Apr 27
    1 - 3pm

    2116 R St NE, Washington, DC 20002

    $800,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 3.5 Baths
    • 1,791 Sq Ft
    • 2116 R St NE
    • New 3 days ago

    Exquisite finishes enhance every inch of this 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath single family home, ideally positioned on a corner lot with secure off-street parking and a professionally landscaped yard. Fully renovated in 2023, the interior welcomes you with luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lighting that flows seamlessly throughout. At the heart of the home, the chef’s kitchen impresses with white

    Sheena Saydam Keller Williams Capital Properties

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Margaret Babbington, an experienced agent in this area.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
673
Median Age
48
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
26%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$65,892
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$77,616

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
79.3%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
33.9%
Advanced Degrees
11.7%
% Population in Labor Force
56.7%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
14''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

17 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

17 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

39 / 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.

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Reviews

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Arboretum