Evelyn Jozsa Key Takeaways:
- Great Falls claims #1 most expensive zip at $1.65 million, followed by McLean at #2 with $1.45 million median
- D.C.’s 20015 zip ranked as the #3 most expensive zip code in the metro
- 16 of the top 25 priciest zips in Greater Washington recorded medians above $1 million
- Virginia’s Fairfax County is the #1 county for expensive zips, claiming 10 entries of 25
After releasing our traditional year-end report of the Gibson Island secured a position in the top 100 at #45, boasting a median sale price of $2.53 million, none of the zip codes in the D.C. area ranked among the nation’s most expensive.
In order to accurately rank the top 25 priciest zips in Greater Washington, we analyzed closed home sales that occurred between January 1, 2023, and November 7, 2023, calculating the median sale price for each zip code.
It was immediately clear that D.C. remains one of the most expensive places in the U.S. to buy a home in, as its priciest zip codes had median sale prices well above the national average of $394,300. To be precise, out of the 25 ranked zip codes, 16 recorded a median sale price above $1 million, with overall medians ranging from $865,000 to $1.65 million.
Fairfax County Claims Top 2 Most Expensive Zip Codes
In the Washington metropolitan area, 16 of the 25 priciest zip codes were in Virginia, six in Maryland, and three in D.C. proper. Moreover, Fairfax County in Virginia had the highest representation in our ranking, contributing 10 zip codes. Maryland’s Montgomery County had the second-highest number of pricey zips with six entries, followed by the District of Columbia and Arlington County, Va., with three each. Loudoun County, Va., contributed two zip codes, and Alexandria City, Va., contributed one.
These are the top 10 priciest zip codes in Greater Washington:
- Great Falls, Va. (22066)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,650,000
- McLean, Va. (22101)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,453,000
- Washington, D.C. (20015)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,348,000
- Arlington, Va. (22207)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,275,000
- Bethesda, Md. (20817)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,250,000
- Chevy Chase, Md. (20815)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,226,000
- Potomac, Md. (20854)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,210,000
- Waterford, Va. (20197)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,185,000
- Bethesda, Md. (20816)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,150,000
- Washington, D.C. (20007)
Median home sale price in 2023: $1,120,000
Virginia’s Fairfax County claimed the top two spots in our ranking, with the highest median sale price recorded in 22066 in Great Falls, at $1.65 million, followed by 22101 in McLean, with a median of $1.45 million.
Great Falls, characterized by Tudor mansions and Craftsman homes, is a residential area primarily featuring single-family homes. It offers proximity to downtown Washington, D.C., the Northern Virginia tech corridor and high-ranking schools. Adjacent McLean is known for being home to high-ranking government officials.
The #3 spot in our ranking goes to Washington, D.C.’s 20015 zip code, which encompasses the Chevy Chase neighborhood in the city’s northwest region, boasting a median sale price of $1.34 million. The D.C. neighborhood is often called a “suburb-in-the-city,” characterized by tree-lined streets and a distinct residential enclave atmosphere.
Coming up next at #4 is Arlington’s 22207 zip code, with a median sale price of $1.27 million. The city along the Potomac River experienced a surge in housing prices following Amazon’s decision to establish its second headquarters in Crystal City. Due to the “Amazon effect,” Arlington’s home sale price climbed from $591,000 in 2018 to $653,000 back in 2019. As of November 2023, the median sale price for single-family homes stood at $761,000 in Arlington, with housing affordability being at its lowest since 1984, according to Investing.com.
Across the Potomac River, Bethesda’s 20817 zip code secured the #5 position with a median sale price of $1.25 million, just $25,000 behind Arlington’s 22207 zip code. Zip code 20817 also stands as Maryland’s second most expensive after Gibson Island’s 21056.
Zip 20815 took the #6 spot on our list, boasting a median sale price of $1.22 million. The pricey zip is located in the Town of Chevy Chase just across the state line in Maryland and is adjacent to the neighborhood of Chevy Chase in D.C. While predominantly a residential suburb, locals in this area have convenient access to retail and entertainment in the nearby Friendship Heights shopping district. Additionally, Chevy Chase’s 20815 benefits from easy access to Washington, D.C., located just 9 miles from downtown D.C.
Securing the #7 position is Potomac’s 20854 zip code in Maryland, with a median sale price of $1.21 million. The Potomac housing market is rich in large, upscale homes with spacious lots, modern amenities and high-end finishes. At the beginning of this year, Dan Snyder famously listed his 15-acre Potomac property for $49 million, however, the property has yet to sell, and its price was cut to $34.9 million.
In Virginia, the sole Loudoun County zip code to secure a spot in the top 10 is 20197 in Waterford, claiming #8 with a median sale price of $1.18 million. Located some 47 miles from downtown D.C., Waterford is a National Historic Landmark thanks to its well-preserved 18th and 19-century architecture.
Moving closer to downtown D.C., Bethesda’s 20816 zip code claimed the #9 spot with a median sale price of $1.15 million. Finally, the District’s 20007 zip code, located 4 miles from The White House and covering neighborhoods such as Berkley, Foxhall Village and Georgetown, claimed the #10 spot with a median sale price of $1.12 million.
Explore 2023’s top 25 most expensive zip codes in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area below:
Methodology
To determine the most expensive zip codes in the Greater Washington D.C. area, we looked at residential transactions closed between January 1, 2023, and November 7, 2023, taking into account sales of condos, co-ops, and single- and two-family homes. All package deals were excluded.
For an accurate representation, we considered only zip codes that registered a minimum of three residential transactions.
Median sale prices were rounded to the closest $1,000.
