American University

Washington, DC

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American University - Washington, DC Area Guide

A world-class academic environment in a quiet corner of northwest DC

Private Suburban Historic Eagles AU

Since its establishment in 1893, American University has been a major fixture among the Washington academic community. Fitting for its DC setting, American University is well known for its politically active student body, and the School of International Service is one of the top-ranked schools of its kind in the world. In addition to the superb academic climate, AU serves as a key player in Washington’s cultural scene—the university’s Katzen Arts Center is one of the area’s best gallery spaces, frequently exhibiting provocative and politically themed works.

The American University campus sits in northwest DC’s Tenleytown neighborhood, providing a quiet local environment within close reach of the area’s most exciting hotspots. The Archbold Parkway lies a couple of blocks to the east, offering a big, beautiful green space that’s perfect for bike rides, running, or just relaxing in the sun. The charming suburban neighborhoods surrounding the university are full of great houses and apartments within easy walking distance of the main campus. The most affordable rentals can usually be found near Wisconsin Avenue in Cathedral Heights and McLean Gardens.

Living near AU puts you just 15 minutes from the heart of DC via the DC Metro. A Red Line station is located just north of the College of Law, making it easy to take advantage of the countless attractions and resources of our nation’s capital.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Washington, DC is $1,816 for a studio, $2,249 for one bedroom, $3,090 for two bedrooms, and $3,979 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Washington has decreased by -2.7% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 471 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,816/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 690 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,249/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 979 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $3,090/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,071 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $3,979/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Very Walkable

Walkability

80 / 100

Good Public Transit

Transit

60 / 100

Very Drivable

Drivability

80 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

70 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 15 Minute Walk

Groceries

60 / 100

Good Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

60 / 100

Good Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

60 / 100

Good Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

60 / 100

Recreation

Exceptional Amount of Park Space Nearby

Parks

100 / 100

Great Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby

Wellness

80 / 100

Local Vibe

Vibrant Atmosphere at Times

Vibrancy

40 / 100

Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

30 / 100

Very Noisy

Quiet Score

30 / 100

Schools

Murch Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

651 Students

DC Bilingual PCS

Public

Grades PK-5

530 Students

Hyde-Addison Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

381 Students

Lafayette Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

892 Students

Washington Yu Ying PCS

Public

Grades PK-5

602 Students

Deal Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,391 Students

Washington Latin PCS - Middle School

Public

Grades K-8

383 Students

Center City PCS - Brightwood

Public

Grades PK-8

260 Students

BASIS DC

Public

Grades K-12

663 Students

Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS

Public

Grades PK-8

518 Students

Benjamin Banneker High School

Public

Grades 9-12

579 Students

Digital Pioneers Academy - High School

Public

Grades 9-12

201 Students

BASIS DC

Public

Grades K-12

663 Students

School Without Walls High School

Public

Grades 9-12

602 Students

Jackson-Reed High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,153 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Discovery Creek Children's Museum
  • Dumbarton Oaks
  • Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
  • Gulf Branch Nature Center
  • Zachary Taylor Park

Military Bases

Airports

  • Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
  • Washington Dulles International

Top Apartments Near American University

Houses Near American University

Property Management Companies

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.