8.0 out of 10

Spring Valley

38.9393311085406 -77.0970714420773
Great for
  • Safe & Sound
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Internet Access
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  • Schools
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students

Reviews

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

"Trouble in Paradise?"

Spring Valley is a neighborhood rich in stories, not all of them happy ones, but many of them fascinating. The neighborhood is beautiful, wealthy, and easily accessible to the rest of the rest of the city. But there is darkness lurking beneath the loveliness. Past excavations revealed unexploded ordnance buried underneath potential land for new building, and arsenic has infamously been discovered in the soil. As a result, the area has been under the intense scrutiny of the US Army to continue testing.

Sensational stories aside, Spring Valley has housed several huge names in politics, most notably Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. In many ways, this is one of the most two-sided neighborhoods in the entire city. But these crazy stories and high-profile residents have certainly given the residents something to talk about, and the result has been a strong sense of community bonding.
Pros
  • famous former residents
  • community
Cons
  • continued, intense military scrutiny
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
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 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"On the surface a great neighborhood, but below the surface...."

Spring Valley is a neighborhood of approximately 6,492 residents located in the northwest section of the city and home to the main American University campus. The neighborhood’s boundaries are generally defined as being within the footprint of Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Nebraska Avenue N.W. and Dalecarlia Parkway N.W. In 2010, the average price of a home sold here was $1,243,705 with 84% of the homes being owner occupied. Homes here tend to be larger, well maintained detached single family homes situated on large lots, which is not typical for many neighborhoods in the district. As with many neighborhoods there is a commercial component to the neighborhood as well.

There are no schools located in Spring Valley with the exception of American University. Dedicated public recreational facilities are not located within the neighborhood, so residents will need to utilize the Friendship Recreation Center, which is located along Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Numerous restaurants and shopping opportunities are located within the neighborhood, primarily along Massachusetts Avenue N.W. However, many may want to travel to other neighborhoods for more options for these activities. Public transportation is available with numerous Metro Bus stops being located in the neighborhood. Dedicated green space is available at Spring Valley Park and Little Falls Park, which holds the Dalecarlia Reservoir. Sibley Memorial Hospital is located just outside of the neighborhood.

Recent crime statistics indicate that the neighborhood is relatively safe with crimes against people and property being infrequent. As always check the most recent crime statistics and make an informed decision as to the crime risk in any neighborhood. Personally, I like the neighborhood, but many may be concerned about the long-term health concerns, as a result of the environmental issues related to the neighborhood’s former use as a military facility many years ago.
Cons
  • arsnic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Lifestyles of the possibly poisoned?"

Spring Valley is one of the lesser-known neighborhoods that you need to make a fortune to live in. And for that reason, a lot of important people live there. Unlike Georgetown, or Dupont Circle, the neighborhood has a quiet, suburban feel. And there are services here in Spring Valley, from gas stations to supermarkets, and even some sit down restaurants. However, these amenities are more your down-home style, rather than the highly upscale and trendy ones you see in places like Georgetown. For this reason, Spring Valley stays rather quiet. There isn’t much public transportation either, further reducing the incentive to just wander over here.
Largely for these reasons, a lot of important people live in Spring Valley. This has included Cabinet members over the years, and several ambassadors live here too. One of these is the ambassador from Syria. With the kind of quiet and exclusivity that Spring Valley affords, we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, there’s plenty of space for him and his security detail to blend in: important if you’re from a volatile country like Syria. Anyhow, residents love to have fun, and will throw parties in those hugely opulent houses and yards of theirs. Just do be careful with the kids playing in the dirt, on account of arsenic contamination.
Pros
  • community
Cons
  • arsnic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Arsnic and Ambassadors"

Spring Valley in Northwest is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the District. It's tree-lined streets house many of Washington's elite, including reporter Ann Compton, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Ed and Debra Cohen (principle owners of the Washington Nationals. The neighborhood also houses the main campus of American University, the Wesley Theological Seminary, and Washington College of Law. Several ambassadors also call the area home, including those from South Korea, Canada, Yemen, Croatia, Mexico, Bahrain, Qatar, Uganda, and Luxemburg. Unfortunately, in recent years Spring Valley has attracted attention more for what's underground than who lives there now. During World War I, the United States Army used the then undeveloped area for the testing of Chemical Weapons. All laboratory buildings and storage facilities were torn down decades ago. During excavations for new construction, however, unexploded chemical ordinance were uncovered; further laboratory tests revealed that the soil in part of Spring Valley contained high levels of arsenic. As a result, the Army Corps of Engineers has done extensive soil testing, research to try and pinpoint the sites of old storage facilities, and engaged in clean-up of contaminated areas. While the area is considered safe, parents of small children might want to consider other neighborhoods.
Pros
  • ambassadors
Cons
  • arsnic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More