Living in Tenleytown
A Wisconsin Avenue crossroads in Upper Northwest DC with a Red Line station, everyday shopping, and Fort Reno Park, surrounded by 1920s and 1930s detached and semi-detached houses on quiet side streets.
Living in Tenleytown
An overview of daily life in Tenleytown, what draws residents, and what sets it apart.
Tenleytown is the Wisconsin Avenue crossroads of Upper Northwest DC, centered on Tenley Circle and the Tenleytown-AU Metro station at Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Street. It sits between Friendship Heights to the north and Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens to the south, with American University Park to the west and North Cleveland Park to the east.
The side streets hold the housing: detached and semi-detached homes built mostly in the 1920s and 1930s on streets such as Albemarle, Brandywine, Ellicott, Fessenden, Van Ness, and Yuma and the numbered streets around 40th to 42nd. Condominiums cluster near the Metro, including Cityline at Tenley above the Wisconsin Avenue shops at Albemarle Street.
Daily errands are easy. Whole Foods, Target, a hardware store, pharmacies, and restaurants line Wisconsin Avenue within a few blocks of the station, and the Tenley-Friendship Library opened in its current building in 2011. Fort Reno Park, the highest natural point in the District at 409 feet, offers fields, courts, and a long summer concert tradition.
Tenleytown-AU station on the Red Line connects directly to Dupont Circle, Farragut North, and Metro Center, and the D80 and D82 buses run along Wisconsin Avenue toward Georgetown. American University’s main campus is a short walk down Nebraska Avenue.
I enjoy showing Tenleytown because it pairs detached houses with yards on quiet streets with a Red Line stop and everyday shopping a few minutes’ walk away.
Key Highlights:
- Housing character — 1920s–30s detached and semi-detached homes on the side streets; condominiums near the Metro, including Cityline at Tenley
- Green space — Fort Reno Park, the District's highest natural point, and nearby Glover-Archbold Park
- Daily essentials — Whole Foods, Target, hardware, and restaurants along Wisconsin Avenue; Tenley-Friendship Library
- Transit — Tenleytown-AU Metro (Red Line); D80/D82 buses on Wisconsin Avenue
- Schools — DCPS boundary schools include Janney Elementary, Deal Middle, and Jackson-Reed High; confirm any address with the DCPS school finder
- Market character — a small market of about 25–30 sales a year, half detached houses
Tenleytown Real Estate FAQs
Insight into the nuances of buying and selling in one of the country’s most complex urban markets.
Is Tenleytown a good place to live?
It suits buyers who want a house on a quiet street within walking distance of a Red Line station, grocery stores, and a large park. Wisconsin Avenue itself is busy, but the side streets are residential.
Where is Tenleytown in DC?
Tenleytown is in Upper Northwest DC along Wisconsin Avenue, centered on Tenley Circle and the Tenleytown-AU Metro station, between Friendship Heights to the north and Cleveland Park to the south.
Is there a Metro station in Tenleytown?
Yes. Tenleytown-AU station on the Red Line is at Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Street. The D80 and D82 buses also run along Wisconsin Avenue.
What types of homes are in Tenleytown?
Mostly detached and semi-detached homes built in the 1920s and 1930s, plus condominiums near the Metro. Of 25 sales in the past year, 13 were detached houses, 7 were semi-detached or row homes, and 5 were condos.
How much do homes cost in Tenleytown?
Over the twelve months through August 2026 the median sale was $1,400,000 at about $563 per square foot. Detached houses had a median of about $2.16 million and condominiums about $520,000.
How fast do homes sell in Tenleytown?
The median home sold in 13 days, and detached houses in about 6 days. Nearly half of sales closed at or above their original list price.
What is there to do in Tenleytown?
Shop and dine along Wisconsin Avenue, use the fields and courts at Fort Reno Park, visit the Tenley-Friendship Library, and walk to American University’s campus and Glover-Archbold Park.
Which schools serve Tenleytown?
DCPS boundary schools for much of the neighborhood include Janney Elementary, Alice Deal Middle, and Jackson-Reed High. Assignments vary by address, so confirm with the DCPS school finder.
Location & Neighborhood
Along Wisconsin Avenue in Upper Northwest DC, around Tenley Circle and the Tenleytown-AU Metro.
Tenleytown is generally bounded by Fessenden Street to the north, Reno Road and Fort Reno Park to the east, Tenley Circle and the blocks just south of it to the south, and 42nd Street and Nebraska Avenue to the west, where American University Park begins. Wisconsin Avenue is the commercial spine; Albemarle, Brandywine, Ellicott, Van Ness, and Yuma Streets hold most of the houses.
Metro, Shops, and a Hilltop Park
Tenleytown-AU station anchors the neighborhood, with the Red Line running directly downtown and buses along Wisconsin and Nebraska Avenues. Most homes are within a ten- to fifteen-minute walk of the station.
Groceries, a large Target, hardware, pharmacies, and restaurants are all on Wisconsin Avenue near the station. Fort Reno Park, just east, has athletic fields, tennis courts, and open lawn on the highest ground in the city.
Neighboring Area:
- Friendship Heights — north, above Fessenden Street
- American University Park — west, across 42nd Street and Nebraska Avenue
- North Cleveland Park — east, beyond Reno Road
- Cathedral Heights and McLean Gardens — south, along Wisconsin Avenue
- Chevy Chase DC — northeast
A Day In The Life - Snapshot
The quick details buyers ask about most.
Metro Access
Tenleytown-AU (Red Line) at Wisconsin and Albemarle is within a ten- to fifteen-minute walk of most homes; D80/D82 buses run along Wisconsin Avenue.
Walkability
Whole Foods, Target, hardware, pharmacies, the library, and restaurants cluster near the station, so most errands are walkable from the side streets.
Typical Home Types
Detached and semi-detached houses from the 1920s–30s with yards, a few rowhouses, and condominiums near the Metro such as Cityline at Tenley.
Parking
Most houses have driveways or rear garages; residential permit parking covers the side streets. Condo buildings typically offer garage parking.
Vibe
A busy Wisconsin Avenue crossroads with shops and transit, surrounded by quiet, tree-lined residential streets and the open lawns of Fort Reno Park.
Best For
Buyers who want a house with a yard near a Red Line station and everyday shopping, or a condo steps from the Metro in Upper Northwest.
Tenleytown Market Snapshot
A high-level look at current pricing, demand, and sales activity in the Tenleytown real estate market.
$1,400,000
Median Sales Price
$563
Median Price Per Sq Ft
13
Median Days On Market
25
Annual Closed Sales
+26.2%
YoY Median Price Change
Tenleytown is a small market led by detached houses. The snapshot covers every closed sale inside the neighborhood boundary over the trailing twelve months through August 2026 — 13 detached houses, 7 semi-detached and row homes, and 5 condominiums. Price per square foot uses interior living area.
Across all home types the median sale was $1,400,000 at about $563 per square foot, with a median of 13 days on market and sales averaging 97% of original list price. With only 25 sales, the 26% jump in the median is mostly mix: detached houses were a larger share of sales, and fewer condominiums sold (5 versus 11). Price per square foot actually eased, which is a better sign that prices were steady rather than rising sharply.
Market data reflects recent 12-month activity. Individual buildings may vary.
For Sale
Homes for Sale in Tenleytown
Every active Tenleytown listing, pulled live from Bright MLS.
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Recently Sold
Recently Sold in Tenleytown
Closed sales from the past 12 months — the comps that set today’s pricing.
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In-Depth Market Analysis
Tenleytown Market Insights
How pricing trends, absorption rates, and inventory levels are shaping buying and selling
Inventory & Absorption
Inventory is very thin: about 25 homes sold inside the core Tenleytown boundary in the past year. Detached houses sold at a median of about 6 days, and nearly half of all sales closed at or above list, so well-prepared homes rarely sit.
Pricing Dynamics
Detached houses ranged from about $930,000 to well above $2 million, with a median near $2.16 million. Semi-detached and row homes had a median near $1.15 million, and condominiums ranged from about $400,000 to $1.83 million, with a median near $520,000.
Buyer Profile
House buyers here usually compare Tenleytown with AU Park, Friendship Heights, and North Cleveland Park, weighing walking distance to the Metro against lot size and condition. Condo buyers focus on proximity to the station, parking, and building fees.
Strategic Outlook
Expect houses to stay competitive through 2026 because so few come to market. With such a small sample, year-over-year medians can swing widely, so sellers and buyers should rely on recent sales on the same blocks. Condo sellers should highlight parking and Metro access.
Market Position Overview:
Inventory Level: Balanced with selective competition
Negotiation Environment: Moderate flexibility
Typical Days on Market: 25-45 (well-priced units)
Rental Demand: Consistent due to transit proximity
Long- Term Outlook: Stable, walkability-driven value
Tenleytown Housing & Architecture
Interwar detached and semi-detached houses on the side streets, with condominiums and mixed-use buildings along Wisconsin Avenue.
Interwar Detached Houses
Brick and frame Colonial Revival and Tudor-influenced houses from the 1920s and 1930s, with front lawns, porches, and rear yards, make up much of the housing on the side streets.
Semi-Detached Homes
Pairs of brick semi-detached houses from the same era offer a similar feel on smaller lots, often with rear parking off the alley.
Cityline at Tenley
Condominiums above the Wisconsin Avenue retail at Albemarle Street, steps from Tenleytown-AU Metro and the neighborhood’s larger stores.
Newer Infill Houses
A number of houses built since 2000 have replaced older homes, adding larger floor plans and modern systems at the top of the market.
Fort Reno Park
The site of a Civil War fort and the District’s highest natural point at 409 feet, now an open park with fields, courts, and summer concerts.
Tenley Circle and St. Ann’s
Tenley Circle, where Wisconsin and Nebraska Avenues meet, and the landmark St. Ann’s Church mark the historic center of the old village of Tenleytown.
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