Massachusetts Heights

Massachusetts Heights is a well-appointed historic Northwest Washington neighborhood that boasts turn-of-the-20th-century mansions in a truly one-of-a-kind area. While there are many jaw-dropping communities in Washington, what distinguishes Massachusetts Heights from nearby areas is its terrain, says Robert Hryniewicki, Realtor with HRL Partners and Washington Fine Properties. He explains, “Most notably, Massachusetts Heights is not a 'cut-through' neighborhood. There are no thoroughfares going through it, and it is private and somewhat isolated. Then, because of the way it was designed back in the early 1900s, properties have parcels of one-quarter to one-half of an acre, and homes are set along winding, meandering roads. Grid patterns are common in many DC neighborhoods, but not here.” Hryniewicki adds, “Homes are significant in size and have large lots. Understandably, this is the second most costly neighborhood in Washington, just behind Georgetown.” Massachusetts Heights’ one-half mile southwest edge along Massachusetts Avenue, makes its nearest neighbor “Embassy Row”, the informal name given to the stretch of Mass Ave (as it’s colloquially known) with a high number of international embassies and diplomatic residences.

Massachusetts Heights is located just between Massachusetts Avenue and Woodley Road, and 34th Street to the immediate east. The north half of the neighborhood is occupied by The Washington National Cathedral of the Episcopal Church and its associated private schools St. Alban’s School and National Cathedral School. Within the 20 city blocks of the southern half, you’ll find turn-of-the-20th century Gothic Revivals, Colonial-Revival, Mediterranean-influenced and Italianate homes that are all custom built, one of a kind and most with no less than 4,000 square feet. Mediterranean-style homes with seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and almost 5,000 square feet have sold over the past year for around $2.6 million. Stately brick Colonial Revivals on 35th Street have recently listed for around $3 million. While a few brand-new custom-built homes with about 7,000 square feet have recently been offered for about $7.5 million, most homes predate 1930.

Eaton Elementary offers pre-k through fifth grade, has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, and is ranked one of the Best Public Elementary Schools in the District. Niche gives them an A-minus rating.

Hardy Middle School offers sixth through eighth grades and is ranked one of the Best and Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in the District. Niche also gives them an A-minus rating. For the first time in over 50 years, DC Public Schools opened a new high school in August 2023. MacArthur High School opened in the building of the former private Georgetown Day School and will serve 200 ninth graders and 50 tenth graders in its first year. They provide a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and will be welcoming $77 million to further expand the campus over the next year.

St. Alban’s School, the boys school associated with The National Cathedral is an Episcopal, independent, college prep day and boarding school. It offers fourth through twelfth grade. Named after Saint Alban, widely regarded as the first British martyr, the school was founded in 1909 and has graduated hundreds of notable alumni including Henry Cabot Lodge, J.W. Marriott, and Brit Hume. Niche gives St. Alban’s an overall grade of A-plus. National Cathedral School, the sister school to St. Alban’s, is a private Christian school for girls offering grades four through twelve. It is located on the grounds of The Washington National Cathedral and was founded in 1900. NCS’s student body is 46% young women of color and the school focuses on intellectual rigor, diversity and inclusion.

Parks and green spaces both small and sweeping surround the neighborhood. The Bishop’s Garden offers 57 acres of beautifully cultivated arbors, meditation areas, sculpture gardens and woods, on the property of The National Cathedral. The All Hallows Guild funds and manages the preservation of the gardens and its popular amphitheater to ensure that it will be a long-lasting and well-preserved destination for visitors and horticulturalists alike. Kids of all ages will enjoy living just one mile from the National Zoo (officially known as Smithsonian National Zoological Park). From seasonal events, and conservation programs to their world-famous exhibits of African Lions and Asian Pandas, there are endless reasons to visit the zoo and become a local supporter. Macomb Recreation Center is just two blocks north of the neighborhood and offers two playgrounds, a shaded gazebo, a basketball court and a baseball field. The park is particularly striking for its abundant trees that provide an almost continuous cover along its perimeter.

Massachusetts Heights offers easy access to Wisconsin Avenue’s popular shopping and dining corridor and is less than a mile from other attractions including The Naval Observatory and the campus of Georgetown University. Open City at The National Cathedral is worth visiting not just for its coffee and smoked salmon bagel, but its location is unusual, to say the least. Neatly placed inside an old chapel, Open City at The National Cathedral is one of the most unique places in the District to enjoy a weekend brunch. They also feature rotating works of local art and they welcome local musicians to play on weekends. Wegmans at nearby Ridge Square on Wisconsin Avenue is big on convenience and service as they’re open from 6 AM to midnight, 7 days a week. If thrift shopping is a favorite pastime, you don’t want to miss The Opportunity Shop, a popular spot on the campus of St. Alban’s Church, not far from St. Alban’s School.

There are plenty of positive attributions that historians and real estate experts bestow upon Massachusetts Heights and its homes. Historic, notable, significant, unique and expansive, are just a few. But the word that pleases most people when they find the property of their dreams is certainly the best – “home.”

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Jack Adams

Video By

Jacob Cardwell