Considering Kensington or Garrett Park, MD? What to Know About the 20895 and 20896 Housing Market

Kensington Is a Town, a Historic District, and a Much Larger Area

At the center of what most people call Kensington sits a town and historic district known for its large Victorian homes. Matt Cheney explains that the name Kensington stretches well beyond that historic core. The broader area includes neighborhoods such as Chevy Chase View, Kensington Park, South Kensington, North Kensington, and Parkwood, and all of them are found in Maryland’s 20895 ZIP code.

That distinction matters for anyone researching the area. A town boundary, a neighborhood name, and a ZIP code are three different ways of drawing a map, and housing market statistics are usually reported by ZIP code. A figure reported for 20895 blends the historic town with the surrounding neighborhoods, which can differ in housing type, lot size, and age of construction. A buyer comparing a Victorian near the town center with a newer colonial in Chevy Chase View is looking at two very different homes that both sit inside the same 20895 average.

Matt Cheney’s Kensington community overview describes a mix of housing that runs from classic bungalows to expanded colonials to historic Victorians. That range is one reason a single ZIP code average can describe very few individual homes. It is also why a conversation about a specific street, a specific era of construction, and a specific property type is usually more useful than a headline number.

Buyers considering a home inside a historic district may also want to ask, early in the process, whether any local rules could apply to exterior changes or renovations. Requirements can vary by location and by project, so it is a question worth raising before plans are drawn up rather than after.

Antique Row on Howard Avenue

Matt Cheney points to Kensington’s Antique Row as one of the area’s signature destinations and describes it as the largest collection of antique shops in the DMV. Antique Row is centered on Howard Avenue just off Connecticut Avenue. According to Antique Row’s own description, the district includes individual antique and specialty shops, a multi-dealer antiques market, a design center, an art gallery, and several cafes and restaurants spread across Howard Avenue, Armory Avenue, and Fawcett Street.

Local historical accounts describe Howard Avenue as the earliest commercial district in the town, with shops that grew up around the train station. That history is still visible in the streetscape today, where older commercial buildings line a compact stretch that can be explored on foot. Matt Cheney’s community overview also mentions a popular farmers market, local shops, and restaurants as part of downtown Kensington.

For buyers who value an older, more traditional town center, this part of Kensington is often a reference point when comparing neighborhoods. Proximity to shops, restaurants, and the commuter station is one of several factors buyers commonly weigh alongside home style, lot size, and price. Opening hours and shop lineups change over time, so visitors should confirm details with individual businesses before making a special trip.

Commuting From Kensington and Garrett Park by MARC Train

Matt Cheney highlights commuting as another feature of the area. For buyers looking for an alternative to driving to work or taking the Metro downtown, Kensington Station is the second stop on the MARC commuter train line from DC’s Union Station. The third stop on that line is the Garrett Park Station. Both stations are served by the MARC Brunswick Line, and the first stop out of Union Station is Silver Spring, where the MARC platform also connects with the Metrorail Red Line.

A few practical points may help buyers compare this option with a driving commute. Brunswick Line service is designed around commuting, and not every train stops at every station. Garrett Park in particular is served by a limited set of trains, and some of those are flag stops. The Maryland Transit Administration also notes that parking at both the Kensington and Garrett Park stations is limited, so riders often plan for a short walk, a bike ride, or a Ride On bus connection instead of counting on a space near the platform.

Because schedules, stops, and parking conditions can change, buyers who see the train as a deciding factor should check the current MARC Brunswick Line schedule with the Maryland Transit Administration and compare it against their own work hours. A test ride on a typical weekday can be more informative than any description.

Garrett Park: Another Town and Historic District With Its Own ZIP Code

Garrett Park is also a town and historic district. It sits on the other side of the Rock Creek parkland from Kensington and has its own ZIP code, 20896. Matt Cheney’s video covers both ZIP codes together, which is a helpful way to see how two neighboring communities compare, but it also means that any combined figure should be read with care. Garrett Park is a compact town, and a combined average for 20895 and 20896 is usually weighted toward whichever ZIP code records more sales.

Buyers who are seriously comparing the two communities may get a clearer picture by looking at each ZIP code on its own. Housing type, lot size, and the share of older homes can differ from one town to the next, and separating the numbers makes those differences easier to see. Matt Cheney can break out 20895 and 20896 individually on request.

The video also notes one local recommendation. For a special occasion, Matt Cheney suggests Black Market Bistro in Garrett Park, which has been listed at 4600 Waverly Avenue and described by visitors as a dining experience set in a converted house. Restaurant details including address, hours, menus, and reservation policies change, so diners should confirm all details with the restaurant directly before visiting.

The Kensington and Garrett Park Housing Market: 2022 Figures and How They Compare Today

The 2022 figures in this section come from Matt Cheney’s February 2022 video and describe the roughly twelve months leading up to that date. They are presented as historical data points. Each one is paired with a matching current figure from Bright MLS, pulled September 24, 2026 for the twelve months from August 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. Bright MLS figures are subject to revision, and because they change month to month, readers viewing this article at a later date should contact Matt Cheney directly for an updated pull.

Houses Sold in 20895 and 20896

In his February 2022 video, Matt Cheney reported that 318 houses traded across the two ZIP codes over the prior year, at an average sales price of $826K and an average of 13 days on the market. Today, according to Bright MLS data pulled September 24, 2026 for the twelve months from August 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, 251 houses sold across 20895 and 20896 at an average sales price of $1,078,142 and an average of 29 days on the market. The average sales price has risen substantially since 2022, and homes are also taking longer to sell than they were in early 2022, though 29 days is still a fast pace by most markets’ standards.

Condos and Co-Ops Sold in 20895 and 20896

Matt Cheney noted that both ZIP codes have relatively few condos and co-ops. In the twelve months before the 2022 video, 22 units traded at an average sales price of $218K and an average of 15 days on the market. Set against the 318 house sales, those 22 units made up roughly 6.5 percent of the roughly 340 combined sales, which is a small share and a useful reminder of how house-heavy this market is. According to the same Bright MLS pull, 13 condos and co-ops sold in the twelve months through August 2026, at an average sales price of $269,838 and an average of 27 days on the market. The condo and co-op segment remains small in both ZIP codes, and with only 13 sales in the current period, this figure is best read as directional rather than precise.

The Highest-Priced House Sale

The highest-priced house sale reported in the 2022 video was in Chevy Chase View. It was a circa 2005 colonial measuring more than 6,700 square feet on a 20,000 square foot lot, with six bedrooms, five full baths, and one half bath. It sits well back from the road with a circular drive, and it traded for $2,025,000 in August 2021. According to Bright MLS, the highest-priced house sale in the current period was a newly built home on Calvend Lane in Kensington. It measures 4,045 square feet on a 0.46 acre lot, with six bedrooms, six full baths, and one half bath, and it sold for $2,595,000 in May 2026, or about $641.53 per square foot. Both were large, high-end sales for the area, and both sat well above the average sales price for houses in their respective periods.

The Highest-Priced Condo Sale

The highest-priced condo sale in the 2022 video was a penthouse at The Waterford, a circa 1964 condominium building. The unit measures 1,949 square feet with three bedrooms, two full baths, a wraparound balcony, and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views. It traded for $310,000, or $159 per square foot. According to Bright MLS, the highest-priced condo sale in the current period was also at that same 1964 building on University Boulevard West in Kensington. That unit, a three bedroom, two bath home measuring 1,944 square feet, sold for $365,000, or about $187.76 per square foot, in October 2025.

How to Read Housing Market Numbers for a Combined ZIP Code Area

Numbers like these are most useful when readers know what each one measures and where it can mislead. A few points apply to any combined market summary.

• Averages can be pulled upward by a few high sales. With an average sales price of $826K in 2022 and a top sale of $2,025,000, a small number of large homes had an outsized effect on the average. A median, which is the middle sale, can describe a typical home more closely, and Matt Cheney can pull either one.
• Days on market describes speed, not value. An average of 13 days for houses in 2022 shows that homes were moving quickly during that period. It does not tell a buyer what any individual home was worth or how much room there was to negotiate.
• Property type changes the picture. Houses and condos in the same ZIP code trade at very different price points, as the $826K house average and the $218K condo average show. Blending them together would hide both stories, which is why the two are reported separately.
• Sample size matters. A market with only 22 condo sales in a year can shift noticeably because of a few transactions, so condo figures are better treated as directional than precise.
• Timing matters. Sales counts and prices often rise and fall with the season, and the time window behind a figure changes what it means. Comparing the same period across years gives a fairer reading than comparing different parts of the year.

What Buyers May Want to Compare in Kensington and Garrett Park

Neighborhood guidance is more useful when it starts with a buyer’s own priorities. For buyers who are weighing commute, parks, housing type, and long-term flexibility, Kensington and Garrett Park are two communities worth comparing carefully. Some questions that often help organize the comparison:

• Housing style and age: Are Victorians, bungalows, colonials, or newer construction the better fit for how the home will be used?
• Location within the ZIP code: How does a home near the town center compare with one in Chevy Chase View, Kensington Park, North Kensington, South Kensington, or Parkwood?
• Commute: Would the MARC schedule, driving, or a mix of both work for a typical week?
• Daily errands and outings: How close are the shops, restaurants, and Antique Row on Howard Avenue?
• Outdoor space: How much do lot size and access to nearby parkland matter?
• Property type: Is a house, condo, or co-op the right fit, given that condos and co-ops are a small part of these ZIP codes?

Visiting a neighborhood at different times of day and on different days of the week is a practical way to test any of these questions. Buyers should also review current information from official sources on anything that matters to their decision, and Matt Cheney can help point them to the right places. School boundaries, ratings, and programs change. Buyers should verify school information directly with the relevant school district before making any decisions based on school assignments or ratings.

What Sellers May Want to Consider in Kensington and Garrett Park

For sellers, the same features that draw attention in the video may also shape how a home is presented. A historic Victorian, a mid-century bungalow, and a newer colonial each attract a different set of buyers, and the way a listing describes its era, layout, and setting can influence who takes notice. Proximity to the MARC station or to Howard Avenue can be a relevant detail for some buyers, and a less important one for others.

Pricing strategy is another area where local detail helps. Because the 2022 figures showed such a wide gap between the ZIP code average and the top sale, a general average is a starting point rather than an answer. Comparable sales from the same neighborhood, of a similar age and size, tend to be more useful than a ZIP code figure. Results vary by property, price point, condition, timing, and competition, and no specific outcome can be promised.

Working With Matt Cheney in Kensington and Garrett Park

Matt Cheney works with buyers and sellers throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia, including Kensington and Garrett Park. Readers who would like an updated Bright MLS pull for 20895 and 20896, a comparison of the two ZIP codes broken out individually, or an opinion on a specific property are welcome to contact Matt Cheney directly. A short conversation about timing, property type, and priorities is often the fastest way to turn general market information into a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kensington and Garrett Park Real Estate

Which ZIP codes cover Kensington and Garrett Park?

Kensington, including the town and its surrounding neighborhoods, is found in Maryland’s 20895 ZIP code. Garrett Park is a separate town with its own ZIP code, 20896.

Which neighborhoods are part of the broader Kensington area?

Matt Cheney lists Chevy Chase View, Kensington Park, South Kensington, North Kensington, and Parkwood as neighborhoods within the larger Kensington area, all in the 20895 ZIP code.

Is Kensington on the Metro?

Kensington is served by the MARC Brunswick Line rather than a Metrorail station. Kensington is the second stop on the MARC line from Union Station, and Garrett Park is the third. Riders can connect to the Metrorail Red Line at Silver Spring, and buyers should confirm current schedules and stops with the Maryland Transit Administration.

What is Kensington’s Antique Row?

Antique Row is a shopping district centered on Howard Avenue just off Connecticut Avenue. Matt Cheney describes it as the largest collection of antique shops in the DMV. The district also includes a multi-dealer antiques market, a design center, an art gallery, and several cafes and restaurants.

What did the 2022 housing figures for 20895 and 20896 show?

In his February 2022 video, Matt Cheney reported 318 house sales at an average of $826K and 13 days on the market, along with 22 condo and co-op sales at an average of $218K and 15 days on the market. These are 2022 figures, shown alongside current Bright MLS numbers in this article.

What do the current Bright MLS figures show for 20895 and 20896?

According to Bright MLS data pulled September 24, 2026 for the twelve months from August 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, 251 houses sold across the two ZIP codes at an average sales price of $1,078,142 and an average of 29 days on the market. In the same period, 13 condos and co-ops sold at an average sales price of $269,838 and an average of 27 days on the market.

Are there many condos and co-ops in Kensington and Garrett Park?

Condos and co-ops remain a small part of both ZIP codes. Only 22 traded in the twelve months before the 2022 video, compared with 318 houses, and 13 traded in the most recent twelve-month period tracked by Bright MLS, compared with 251 houses.

Why should the two ZIP codes be looked at separately?

Combined figures are usually weighted toward the ZIP code with more sales, so they can hide differences between Kensington and Garrett Park. Looking at 20895 and 20896 individually gives a clearer comparison, and Matt Cheney can provide both.

How can a reader get more current or more detailed market numbers?

Contact Matt directly for a current market analysis at (202) 465-0707, including figures broken out by ZIP code, neighborhood, or property type for Kensington and Garrett Park.

Matt Cheney | Compass Real Estate is committed to the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All real estate services are provided without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.