Cathedral Heights

Historical Neighborhood with a Contemporary Lifestyle
Cathedral Heights is a historical neighborhood with an easy commute, convenient accessibility and great restaurants and bars. With the theme of history, this neighborhood has learned to embrace a more contemporary lifestyle with hang out spots like Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar or fitness opportunities like YogaFusion.

Reviewers note that it's very popular for people associated with American University and has a nice, quiet feel to it. Safety was rated 10/10 here and it's a nice break from the big city feel without actually being too far removed.
What Cathedral Heights Residents
Think About Their Apartments
overall
7.5
value
7.5
amenities
6.2
social
5.7
management
6.5
safety
10
Median rents in Cathedral Heights
Studio
$
2,000
1 Bedroom
$
2,700
2 Bedroom
$
3,200

Living in
Cathedral Heights

Proximity To Amenities
Suburban Feel
Convenient Commute
Safe
Walkable
Developing
Good Amount Of Parking Space
Easy Accessibility
Cathedral Heights — 7.6/10 Rating (based on 49 neighborhood reviews)
I went into this a bit on my apartment review. I love living in an actual neighborhood. There's always kids and dogs running around so it feel super safe. I like the front yards, trees, and gardens - definitely doesn't give off the "concrete jungle" vibe. There's not a lot of traffic noise and everything is pretty well maintained. There's some gorgeous Embassies near by which are stunning to look at. Great area for jogging (if you're into that) and right by American without feeling like you live in a dorm.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Alto Towers
It seems like if you live or work at AU, this is a great neighborhood for you. Also if you work on the N2/N4/N6 route and want to be sort of tucked-back into the semi-suburbs but won't be bothered by college kids, it's also a great neighborhood for that. Mass Ave South of campus is basically all apartments for a few blocks so that really is the neighborhood. Not that it's not a great neighborhood if you're not involved with AU, but since I went there, most of the people I know around here are affiliated with the school.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
I love the neighborhood! It is incredibly safe, easy to walk everywhere, and has wonderful trails, and of course the Garden at the National Cathedral. Close to lots of food, but very residential and peaceful.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Cathedral Court
Cathedral Heights is a great neighborhood. It is close to a variety of bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and other useful resources. It is serviced by a variety of bus lines, but not any metro stops.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Alban Towers
I live within walking distance of the university, and half a mile from a grocery store. There is a bus stop right outside the building. The neighborhood is safe and quiet.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
It’s quiet and made up of mostly retirees and young families. There are some restaurants (including 2Amys!) and the Giant is close and great.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Chancery Apartments
Good, convince store in bottom of building next to wagshals, and other places, really nice running trails.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Towers Condominium
Quiet area with lots to do. It's a good mix of college students, young professionals, and families. Pretty safe. The only downside is, while it has bus stops, there's no access to the metro. So if you live in this area you would need a car or be willing to have a fairly difficult commute depending on where you're going.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Skyline Towers Apartments
A nice neighborhood with a Giant grocery store, CVS, salon, several restaurants, a Starbucks and bus transit. A nice area, though quite expensive for DC, which you will notice in the clientele that pass through and in the rent prices. Great proximity to the university and bus access to Tenleytown, Glover Park, Friendship Heights, campus, Georgetown and Farragut Square. Other parts of DC are more difficult to get to. Very safe area, though you will occasionally be begged for money or bothered riding buses (though this is the case all over DC MD and VA frankly).
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
A good neighborhood for students at American with most amenities you will need such as grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants. Folks are friendly and it is well-planned with good signage and benches. Good bus access, but at least 20-30 minute walk to the nearest metro stop. If you're looking for residential and quiet, with good access to American University, it's perfect. If you want a busy city-feel with access to downtown DC, look elsewhere.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Very safe and lots of new restaurants popping up! Also very dog friendly. Walking distance to Giant.
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Reviewed by
10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Cathedral commons
It’s been pretty safe - I think living next to Homeland Security and within AU’s campus helps keep me aware of any potential threats or safety concerns in ways that I wouldn’t if I didn’t live here.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
Super quiet super safe. Not alot going on, it's kind of a trek to Cleveland or Glover park. Great place to live if you want to be by campus and live in the city but be a little bit out of the chaos of the city.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
4000 Massachusetts Avenue Apartments
Quiet, safe
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
McLean Gardens
Really safe and easily accessible. Doesn't have metro near by but bus service is good and shuttle stop isn't far. Also is within the safe ride area.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Skyline Towers Apartments
Close to campus and a safe neighborhood. Only complaint is lack of a grocery store, and being further from Tenleytown.
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Avalon at Foxhall
Cathedral Heights is a fantastic place to live, if you can find someplace you can afford. Populated mostly by single-family housing, the traffic is rarely bad, everywhere is walkable, and access to stores, parks, and other places worth going to is all possible by walking.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
Not all that walkable, restaurants are a little far
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Avalon at Foxhall
The neighborhood is right near AU and is residential. Safe, nice walking areas, Glover Park goes right through it. Downside is there is not a lot of restaurants.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Towers Condominium
Again, perfect for kids and dogs.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mclean Gardens
Overall safe neighborhood.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Nice quiet area
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Wisconsin House
Very safe and good place to walk around
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Very nice area to live. Close to school.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
4000 Massachusetts Avenue Apartments
Pretty nice
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
The neighborhood here is beautiful with lots of trees, places to walk, and access to the Georgetown waterfront. There are a lot of families that live here and elderly people so it's a little farther from some of the night life in D.C. but if you are willing to split a ride with friends or hop on the bus it is very doable.

A note: although the neighborhood is pet friendly, the building does not allow pets.

Overall, it's beautiful here and a nice escape from the craziness of law school life.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Chancery Apartments
Relatively peaceful, quiet, and green neighborhood that’s not too far away from the bustling and louder college residences or town markets. Very walkable, close to the wooden trail, and easy access to transit.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Mclean Gardens is a great little spot, a few restaurants, close to grocery stores, and very walkable!
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Vaughan Place
Quiet, wooded area with stores nearby. Main downside is that it’s far from the metro.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Greenbriar
Because I've only been here during the pandemic I can't talk on the neighborhood too much, but everything is very walkable and has great restaurants and such.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Greenbriar
It's very quiet. If you're looking for more of a night life and action this probably isn't the neighborhood for you
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Greenbriar
Sometimes, if the bus is unreliable, I end up walking home at night. I have never felt unsafe because Massachusetts avenue is always populated with other students and cars (don't push it if it's after 10 p.m., though, anywhere in the world as a young woman). There are many older people who smile and greet me when I walk outside. There are also tons of what I call the "Lulu lemon moms" in their athleisure running uphill with the stroller. Compared to other parts of DC, it is quiet and full of nature. If you walk two blocks east, you reach Wisconsin Avenue and it becomes busy and loud. If you walk a long block west, you reach campus, and it's also hectic. But this neighborhood is nestled in between and almost feels like a suburb.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Overall it's a nice and quiet area. In addition, it's quite safe with serious crimes being few and far between. However, it's somewhat far from the nearest metro station (Tenleytown-AU). Also, there are not many restaurants/bars nearby, so going out generally involves public transit, rideshare, etc.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
4200 Cathedral Avenue
An easy walk to school, and an amazing view of the national cathedral. Grocery shopping and restaurants are just a couple blocks away. The 33 bus line is very accessible and consistent. The only problem is that it is a 20+ minute walk to the closest metro stops (Cleveland park and Tenleytown metro stops).
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Chancery Apartments
It’s a nice, mainly residential neighborhood, by the National Cathedral. Many prominent figures (Madeline Albright, Tony Fauci, etc) live around here, people walk their dogs a lot or jog/bike, and there are restaurants and stores around. It’s a nice and mostly quiet neighborhood to live in and, again, right by AU.
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Avalon at Foxhall
It is a great neighborhood if you are going to American University, a short walk or bus ride to campus. They are starting to add more restaurants and shops nearby and its great that the new Giant and CVS opened by the Cathedral. If you have a car, you can certainly find parking and get to everything quickly.
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Reviewed by
4
/10
Neighborhood Rating
4200 cathedral avenue nw
Nice suburban feel in the city. Definitely a safer place than most and generally convenient to other places with enough bus routes. In addition, there's never a problem with food as a nice walk around to a eatery is never out of the question.
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Avalon at Foxhall
Generally quiet and nice family neighborhood.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Highview Towers
This is a very residential area. It's about 7 minutes to Cathedral Commons, which has a Giant, CVS, some restaurants, and some boutique stores, but it still feels pretty isolated from the rest of DC.
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Idaho Terrace
Neighborhood is good, direct connections to downtown and Tenley town metro stations. Giant is walking distance as well as few restaurants.
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Chancery Apartments
Best neighborhood with several grocery stores around, and school is just 15 mins walking distance away.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Skyline Towers Apartments
Close to campus, Wegman's & Giant Food nearby, nice neighborhood.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Vaughan Place
Super friendly neighbors, lots of pets
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Reviewed by
7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Vaughan Place
The neighboorhood is NW DC and is fairly safe. I feel much safer in this neighborhood than other parts of DC. I feel safe running/walking outside.
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Chancery Apartments
Pleasant, safe community. But, few restaurants near Ward Circle and just a couple bus lines.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
Safe and peaceful.
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire
Very safe and quiet
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Reviewed by
9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mclean Gardens
Very quiet and safe neighborhood.
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Reviewed by
8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Sherry Hall
Just normal
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Reviewed by
6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Berkshire


Getting to Know
Cathedral Heights

Neighborhood Boundaries
East to West Boundaries: Wisconsin Ave NW to New Mexico Ave NW
North to South Boundaries: Van Ness St NW to Tunlaw Rd NW
dining
Al Dente
La Piquette
Pizza Boli’s
The Grilled Oyster Company
convenience
Berkshire Food & Drug
CVS Pharmacy
Rite Aid
fitness
Glover Archbold Trail
Pure Barre
Solidcore
Tidal Elite Performance Center
parks
Newark Street Dog Park
coffee
Davenport Coffee Lounge
bus
30S/31/33 (bus)
N2 (bus)
N4 (bus)
About your Neighbors
Data from the 2013 American Community Survey
Zip Codes
Cathedral Heights includes zip codes 20016 and 20007
Rent vs Own
33
% of Cathedral Heights residents are renters
Driving to Work
51
% of Cathedral Heights residents drive to work
New Construction
5
% of housing units in Cathedral Heights have been built in the last 15 years
Building Types
57
%
<20 units
5
%
20-49 units
37
%
50+ units
Demographics
Children (under 18)
16
%
18 - 34
33
%
35 - 54
24
%
55+
27
%
Unit Mix
6
%
Studio
28
%
1 Bed
20
%
2 Bed
45
%
3+ Bed
Occupation or Education
Working Professional
59
%
Undergrad Student
20
%
Grad Student
5
%
Unemployed
3
%
Retired
13
%

Best Apartments
in Cathedral Heights

2800 Wisconsin Ave
Studio $1,450

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The Colonnade Condos
1 Bed $2,900
2 Beds $3,800

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Sherry Hall
Studio $1,250
1 Bed $1,725

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The Greenbriar
1 Bed $1,900
2 Beds $2,995
3 Beds $2,800

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Sutton Place
2 Beds $3,400
3 Beds $3,695

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The Archer
Studio $1,599
1 Bed $1,825
2 Beds $2,800

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