Top Reasons to Move to Washington, D.C.

If you're looking for rich historical culture reflected in the homes and structures of a city, check out Washington, D.C. The nation's heart has a tapestry of home styles, from Capitol Hill's row houses to Foggy Bottom condos. 

Many folks come here for work and then fall in love with the many cultural treasures, culinary experiences, and art museums found around every corner.

To help aspiring residents get familiar with the perks and charms of the nation’s capital, we've created a list of the top reasons why people are moving to the D.C. metro area.

Top reasons to move to Washington, D.C.

• Career opportunities
• Cultural and historical attractions
• Convenient commutes
• Easy access to recreation
• Unique home styles
• Diverse culinary scene 
• Exciting nightlife

Career opportunities

From working in higher education to becoming a curator at one of the many museums, folks often find their dream jobs in D.C. 

Top law firms like Latham & Watkins and numerous lobbying firms such as Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP hold offices here. Beyond the legal space, the federal government helps create an alphabet list of federal agencies, international organizations, and influential think tanks to work at as well. 

Medicine also takes center stage in D.C., with institutions like Johns Hopkins Medicine-Sibley Memorial Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, or the Inova Fairfax Hospital in nearby Falls Church, providing ample job opportunities. 

Georgetown University, Washington University, American University, and the University of the District of Columbia, meanwhile, are the cream of the crop of D.C.’s educational offerings, attracting folks working in academia. 

Cultural and historical attractions

Washington, D.C., offers rich history and culture, including world-class museums, iconic monuments, and a vibrant arts scene. 

Folks can fill their weekends with outings to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Academy of Sciences. Art lovers can spend countless hours exploring places like the Hirshhorn Museum and its sculpture garden. 

The National Mall is a great place to start a weekend adventure, topped off with exploring museums or monuments. Locals can start the day gazing at the Washington Monument and then go explore the hallowed spaces of the Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials.

The Penn Quarter near the White House showcases famous portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, providing a chance to learn about the history of American construction at the National Building Museum. There are also historical sites to visit, like Ford’s Theater, which opened in 1863 and is the site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. 

Convenient commutes 

The numerous highways and efficient public transportation means commute times are low compared to other major cities like New York City or Los Angeles. 

The D.C. Metrorail has several lines running through the city, taking riders to Foggy Bottom, Kalorama, and Fort Totten, to name a few places. You can even get into Northern Virginia via the Orange and Silver Lines. The Metrobus for D.C. fills in the gaps of the rail line, providing an easy way to get home for those who don’t drive. 

For drivers, there are a variety of options to get around to avoid the worst traffic. There are four bridges connecting D.C. to Virginia: the Key Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt, George Mason Memorial Bridge, and the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge is one of the more popular ones, as I-66 takes drivers right out of D.C. into Virginia. The I-395 is another easy way to head to Northern Virginia or drive farther north into Maryland. Folks will want to use the I-495, the Capital Beltway, when traveling to the outskirts of Washington D.C.

DC is a bike-friendly city, In fact, the city has 160 miles of bike lanes and trails for cyclists to use. 

Easy access to recreation

Despite D.C. being a major city, nature is always close when living within the Beltway. 

The National Mall is a vast outdoor space with many monuments to explore. In the springtime, cherry blossom trees come back to life, providing a stunning backdrop. Locals will find many gardens and parks to explore south of K Street, such as Farragut Square, McPherson Square, and Franklin Park. 

The grand expanse of the Potomac River is another must-see outdoor escape. The river separates D.C. from Arlington, Virginia, and provides plenty of green spaces to explore. Near the confluence of the Potomac and Rock Creek are several boathouses where people can launch or rent a kayak, including a boathouse for the Potomac Paddle Club. 

Oftentimes, folks will head to the nearby Appalachian Mountains to get away from the hustle and bustle for a weekend. Out in the wilderness, folks can explore the Shenandoah Valley by taking a trip on Skyline Drive. In the winter, folks can ski or snowboard at the Massanutten Resort located in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Going to the beach is even possible for folks living in D.C., who’ll head to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware or Ocean City in Maryland. 

Unique home styles

From the Logan and Dupont Circle condos to the quaint row houses of Georgetown, living in Washington D.C. has plenty of housing choices to offer. 

Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle are vibrant urban hubs with condos for sale near the action of Downtown D.C. If you’re searching for single-family homes on sizable plots of land, consider exploring Wesley Heights and Cleveland Park.

The Foggy Bottom neighborhood is where you want to search If you're looking for a condo by the water and the center of the city, as you’re near Capitol Hill, the White House, Arlington, and Georgetown. High-rise condos with amenities like protected parking and gyms are primarily in Downtown D.C. Some of the best luxury options are at The Wharf, providing residents access to some of the best eateries in the city. VIO and Amaris are the most prominent buildings offering stunning terraces and pools.

Historic districts like Georgetown and Capitol Hill host storied houses and individual units for sale. Here, you’ll find storied row houses, some of which are protected by local historical societies. So if you’re looking to live in a piece of history, then you’ll want to focus your home search on these neighborhoods. 

Within the Beltway, buyers are likely to find older homes. There are opportunities to raze those properties to the ground and build a new one upon the land. But there are master-planned communities with single family homes or townhomes to own newly-built homes in nearby Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Diverse cuisine and restaurants 

From food sampling tours to bars and farmers markets, there is plenty of great food in the nation’s capital. 

Among the top culinary destinations is the U Street Corridor, nestled in the historic Shaw neighborhood. The area boasts an array of restaurants, cafes, and bars, offering a diverse range of cuisines, from soul food to international fare. 

Shaw's Tavern is a popular spot for grabbing a pint, while the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl is a community staple for comfort food. When dining out late and getting a drink, Harlot DC Lounge & Restaurant is one of the best places to be on U Street. 

Meanwhile, the eateries lining Georgetown's iconic M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are one of the highlights of D.C.’s culinary scene. YELLOW Georgetown is a popular haunt for grabbing artisanal pastries and a fine cup of coffee, while nearby City Sliders provides a perfect happy hour hangout for folks grabbing a burger and a beer. You can join in on a food sampling tour in Georgetown to get the best the neighborhood has to offer.

Although some of the best food in Washington D.C. is at The Wharf on Marine Avenue. Here, you can find French delicacies at BISTRO DU JOUR or enjoy a crab cake on a patio overlooking the water at THE GRILL. 

Exciting nightlife

Whether you're in the mood for artisanal cocktails, dancing the night away, or enjoying live music performances, there's plenty of fun to find in the nation's capital. 

For craft cocktail enthusiasts, D.C. boasts an impressive selection of bars like Dram & Grain, known for its inventive drinks and elegant ambiance. Clubbing enthusiasts can head to venues like Echostage, renowned for hosting top DJs and electronic music events in its mixed concert venue nightclub space. Flash is another popular haunt, offering a more intimate clubbing experience with multiple floors that feature different music genres.

History buffs and beer enthusiasts alike will appreciate D.C.'s wealth of historic pubs and bars, such as The Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington's oldest saloon that has a private rooftop terrace with views of the Capitol and the White House.

D.C. is also home to a thriving live music scene, with iconic venues like "9:30 Club" and "The Hamilton Live" offering nightly performances spanning various genres. Additionally, the city is home to world-class performing arts centers like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, hosting a diverse array of theater, dance, and musical performances. 

You can even catch a show at the historic Ford Theater, where they host everything from comedy to performance art. But throughout the day, tours show visitors storied architecture, explaining the history of this famed theater and the part it played in Abraham Lincoln’s demise. 

Interested in buying a home in DC? Browse listings in your favorite neighborhoods and see how much you can save with Prevu’s Smart Buyer Rebate.