Georgetown is one of the oldest and most upscale neighborhoods in Washington DC. It is home to historic million dollar rowhouses, the prestigious Georgetown University, the C&O Canal, and the famous "Exorcist Steps" which connect M Street to Prospect Street. Georgetown has a lot of character; Its brick sidewalks, hanging pink flowers from lampposts, and historic architecture not only make the neighborhood charming, but attract those who seek something different in Washington DC.
Located next to the Potomac River, south of Woodley Park and west of Dupont Circle, Georgetown is centered at the intersection of M Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue NW, where you will find exclusive antique stores, trendy boutiques, upscale restaurants, nightclubs, and pubs, including Georgetown Cupcake which opened in early 2008.
Demographics
Georgetown is a magnet for highly educated professionals with great salaries that let them afford the condo prices or apartment rents while living a hip and upscale life. There is also a large student population with about two-thirds of the Georgetown University undergraduates living in dorms on the 100-acre campus on the west side of the neighborhood. The population is primarily white, younger, and mostly single.
Georgetown is home to politicians, lobbyists, and social elite. One of its most famous residents was President John F. Kennedy who lived in Georgetown prior to moving into the White House during the 1950s. As one of Washington DC's most renowned upscale neighborhoods, Georgetown is a place for the influential and the prominent, where the Who's Who of Washington DC live.
Housing
Average rent for a studio apartment: $2000 and up.
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $2500 and up.
Georgetown is divided into two areas known as East Village (east of Wisconsin Ave NW) and West Village (west of Wisconsin Ave NW). Both areas are primarily dominated by historic Georgian, Federal or Victorian townhouses. There are also a few condominiums scattered around the neighborhood.
The most popular areas are located between 33rd and 34th Street NW in the West Village on the blocks of N, O, and P Street. Due to the exclusivity of the neighborhood, living in Georgetown is very expensive. Townhouses are usually sold for $1 million and up. There are only a handful townhouses priced under $1 million, and those are the smaller ones. Condominiums are not cheap either. For renters, the number of apartments in Georgetown is limited. One-bedroom apartments can be found in high rise buildings or in the basements of rowhouses.
When searching for housing, keep in mind that the area north of M Street and west of Wisconsin Ave is near Georgetown University. The closer to school, the louder it gets during weekends. Also, you will have a few drunks heading home from the bars.
Transportation
Georgetown does not have a Metro station. The closest stations are Dupont Circle Station and Foggy Bottom Station at George Washington University. Both stations are about a 20 minute walk from the center of Georgetown. Although service is provided by Metrobus, the best public transportation is provided by the red DC Circulator, which connects Georgetown to Union Station, Rosslyn, and Dupont Circle.
Parking
Finding street parking in Georgetown is difficult, specially on weekends. Most condominiums and apartment buildings do not provide private parking for residents, leaving very limited street options. Only 20 percent of Georgetown's properties offer some type of reserved parking space for the owner.
Residential Parking: you must have a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) to park for an unlimited time in the parking zone of your vehicle's registered address. The RPP is a zone sticker that you display on your car indicating that you do not have to abide by the zone time limit restrictions, which is usually 2 hours. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues RPPs as part of the vehicle registration process.
On-street Parking: Multispace parking meters are available for street parking. There will be a street sign noting a time limit for parking. If you don't have a zone sticker for that parking zone, don't park there beyond the time limit indicated on the sign. You must leave the zone. Moving your car to another parking spot is not enough to avoid a ticket.
Nightlife & Restaurants
Georgetown is bustling with shoppers and tourists on weekends, and then at night the restaurants and bars get going. Wisconsin Ave NW and M Street NW are packed with cafes and restaurants ranging from fast food to white tablecloth. If you are looking for an upscale urban lounge, a low-key hangout, or a sophisticated jazz club, Georgetown has it.
Georgetown is also home to upscale restaurants such as Cafe Milano, where Patrick Ewing and Denzel Washington are frequent visitors. Other popular restaurants include Morton's of Chicago, Martin's Tavern, Fetoosh, Saigon Inn and many other restaurants.
Parks
Oak Hill Cemetery, Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks are located along the north and east edge of Georgetown, east of Wisconsin Ave NW. The parks are side by side separating Georgetown from Embassy Row and Dupont Circle.
Another popular park is Georgetown Waterfront Park which covers 10 acres of Georgetown waterfront between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River from the Washington Harbor complex to the Key Bridge. The park has great views and it is a perfect place to spend time with the family. The park has a walkway, where you can often see runners running next to the Potomac River. If you look across the river, depending which direction you are looking at, you can see the U.S. Capitol or even Arlington, VA.
Crime Rate
Georgetown has car break-ins, robberies and nuisance crimes like any other urban neighborhoods, but violent crimes are rare. It is one of the safest neighborhoods to live in Washington DC.
Pros of Georgetown
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Cons of Georgetown
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