Rent vs buy in Foggy Bottom & West End
Washington, DC · ZIP 20037 · computed from 508 active listings within about 1.5 miles on August 26, 2026
The one number that matters
Renting a 1-bedroom here costs $2,500 a month at the median. Owning a matched 1-bedroom costs about $1,585 a month all in on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $152,667: mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA.
The market right now
- Studio: $1,950/mo median rent
- 1-bedroom: $2,500/mo median rent
- 2-bedroom: $4,430/mo median rent
3-bedroom rentals are not shown: fewer than 5 active listings, too few to publish a median from.
508 homes actively for sale within about 1.5 miles, spanning 76 studio, 207 1-bed, 145 2-bed, 33 3-bed, 19 4-bed, 12 5-bed, 5 6-bed. 117 of them sit inside 20037 itself.
Rent medians over 84 active rental listings in 20037.
What buying takes
- Studio: $229,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 1-bedroom: $389,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 2-bedroom: $874,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 3-bedroom: $1,585,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 4-bedroom: $2,199,900 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 5-bedroom: $2,895,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
All-in monthly to own: $1,585 for a 1-bedroom - mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA carried.
Cash to close on a matched 1-bedroom: about $35,113 ($30,533 down plus $4,580 closing), on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $152,667.
Only two matching 2-bedroom homes are for sale here right now, too few to model a reliable market price, so we are not quoting one. They are in the listings below.
When buying pulls ahead
Buying a matched 1-bedroom here (on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $152,667) overtakes renting and investing the difference around year 2. By year ten the gap is about $180,586 in favor of owning.
On the market in Foggy Bottom & West End
| Address | Beds | Price | Cash to close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1121 Arlington Blvd APT 825 | 1 | $149,000 | $34,270 |
| 1121 Arlington Blvd APT 645 | 1 | $149,000 | $34,270 |
| 1121 Arlington Blvd APT 541 | 1 | $160,000 | $36,800 |
| 1021 Arlington Blvd APT 1125 | 1 | $149,000 | $34,270 |
| 1308 21st St NW APT B1 | 1 | $229,900 | $52,877 |
| 1727 Massachusetts Ave NW #108 | 1 | $215,000 | $49,450 |
The engine's own top matches for a typical renter here; each cash-to-close is 20 percent down plus closing on that home's price.
Keep exploring
- Shaw & Bloomingdale · own from about $2,039/mo
- H Street Corridor & Trinidad · own from about $1,659/mo
- Capitol Hill & Navy Yard · own from about $1,784/mo
- Logan Circle & Downtown · own from about $1,977/mo
- Georgetown & Burleith · own from about $1,525/mo
- All Washington, DC neighborhoods
- Introducing LeaseLens: how the rent-vs-buy math actually works
Common questions
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Foggy Bottom & West End?
The median 1-bedroom rents for about $2,500 a month, while owning a matched 1-bedroom runs about $1,585 a month all in (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA) at a typical price of $152,667.
How long until buying beats renting in Foggy Bottom & West End?
On current figures, buying pulls ahead of renting and investing the difference around year 2 for a matched 1-bedroom here.
How much cash do I need to buy in Foggy Bottom & West End?
About $35,113 covers a 20 percent down payment plus closing costs on a matched 1-bedroom. Lower down payment paths exist; this is the standard construction.
Run it on your actual lease
These figures describe a typical renter. Upload your lease and LeaseLens computes the same comparison on your real rent, income, and savings, then watches the market for you.
Analyze my leaseData updated August 26, 2026.
How these numbers are computed
Every figure comes from the same engine that powers the LeaseLens comparison, run over live inventory in 20037: rent medians from active rental listings, ownership costs from the engine's top-matched-homes construction, and the crossover year from its 30-year net worth projection. The reference buyer is a solo renter with good credit, a $100k income, 20 percent down, and cash covering the close. Your own lease and finances will move every number, which is what the full comparison is for.