5.6 out of 10

American University Park

Ranked 56th best neighborhood in Washington
38.9470448874516 -77.0905960456745
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Safe & Sound
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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  •  
  •  
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Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Trendy & Stylish

Reviews

2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Good but overated"

There is a huge mice rat issue in the neighborhood. Houses are generally old and not in good condition. Students neighborhood with all that imply. Lots of Asians and Latinos moved to the neighborhood in the last few years, demographics are changing with all that it implies.
Cons
  • rat and mice
  • increased population of Asians and Latinos
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Almost like the town where I went to college"

American University Park is a great neighborhood of approximately 11,865 residents, with a median age of 35.1 This neighborhood is located in North West D.C. with Maryland, Massachusetts Avenue, Nebraska Avenue, 43rd Street and River Roads forming the borders. Although the cost of housing is expensive, with the average home price in 2010 approaching $982,426, this neighborhood offers great schools, recreational facilities, shopping and nice homes.

Public and private schools nearby include Georgetown Day School, Janny Elemntary School, National Cathedral School and St. Ann's Academy. In addition you will find American University's Washington College of Law located here as well as other building of American University. Recreational facilities include Friendship Recreation Center, Westmoreland Circle Park and Fort Bayard Park. Shopping is nearby at Spring Valley Shopping Center. The nearest Metro Station is Temleytown Metro, which is short walk down Albermarle Street N.W. There are several Metro Bus stops as well.

This is a pretty safe neighborhood with a low crime rate. Home values increased dramatically during the housing boom, but did not retreat to the extent seem in the suburbs. In many ways this neighborhood reminds me of the town were I went to college.
Pros
  • community feel
  • educational opportunities
  • College town without a college feel
Cons
  • high cost of living
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Trendy & Stylish
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"College town without the rowdiness"

Great residential area with a modest price, at least compared to the pricier parts of town. Even with American University at its center, this neighborhood doesn't have the rowdy feel of a college town, although it does have some good haunts like Dancing Crab and Guapo's super close. The neighborhood is perfect for families, with all the amenities of a small town (gym, school, grocery stores), and if you're looking for a dose of green, the amphitheater on American's campus is like the Central Park of the neighborhood. Ideal for those who are looking to settle down but still want to be within spitting distance of the louder parts of DC.
Pros
  • Perfect spot to settle down
  • College town without a college feel
Cons
  • Quiet.. maybe a little too quiet
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
2yrs+

"oasis of affluence"

AU Park is a primarily residential neighborhood just outside of American University. Unlike most neighborhoods close to a school however, there aren't many students living there. This is because the price of a modest sized house easily reaches over a million dollars. Unless you have a lot of money, you can't afford to live here. However, affluent families with children would do well to live here, as the schools are some of the best in the District. You could buy something larger, and save on tuition by sending your children to the public schools. After school, your children could go to any of the three public parks and recreation centers to play with their friends.

Besides the cost of living however, the biggest con to the neighborhood is the general lack of decent shopping, dining and night life. To do much of anything, you will have to jump in your car or onto the Tulleytown Metro and go into Maryland or closer to the center of the city. For those who work outside of the neighborhood (that's most people, there aren't many jobs close by), this isn't a huge problem because you can shop on the way home from work. But if you intend to spend a night out on the town with friends, be prepared to call a cab to take you home.
Pros
  • community feel
  • educational opportunities
Cons
  • high cost of living
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Living Here Could Make You Smarter"

It should surprise no one that a neighborhood named for a major university features some of the best schools and child care in the Washington D.C. area. If you want the best educational start for your young ones, Georgetown Day School is right nearby. On the other hand, if you are looking to advance your own academic credentials, the community's namesake, American University, is just down the street, and its law school is even closer by. After all, what this area really needs is more lawyers.
Like many of the better neighborhoods in the nation's capitol, AU Park has an international flavor. While the Japanese and Swedish embassies have recently moved from the area, their essence lingers on. Unfortunately, so do the high prices of the local homes. While most were built before WWII, the vast majority have had plenty of renovations and updates that have driven the prices of many into the million dollar range. Still, if you can afford it, AU Park is a charming neighborhood that would be a perfect place to live and raise a family.
Pros
  • educational opportunities
  • community feel
Cons
  • high cost of living
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish

Best Streets in American University Park

"A Great Street from Union Station to the National Cathedral"
38.9430905424866 -77.0929914472076

Unranked Streets in American University Park

"A Stone's Throw Away from American University"
38.9449263450502 -77.0862052660457
"My New Home"
38.953140485996 -77.0955115165874

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