Northwest DC 20016 Housing Market: Home Prices in Wesley Heights, Spring Valley and Beyond

Northwest DC’s 20016 zip code stretches across a large part of upper Northwest Washington, from the residential streets of Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, and American University Park to the shops and restaurants along Wisconsin Avenue near Cathedral Heights and Tenleytown. In his ONSITE series, a collection of short videos that follow him through the neighborhoods of metropolitan Washington, Matt Cheney takes a look at this part of the city, from the dining options on Wisconsin Avenue to what homes are actually selling for.

This post expands that episode with the most recent closed-sale data from Bright MLS. Houses and condos and co-ops are reported separately, because they behave very differently in this zip code, and every figure covers closed residential sales in 20016 between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. Data provided by Bright MLS, October 31, 2026.

What the 20016 Zip Code Covers in Northwest DC

A zip code is a postal boundary, not a single neighborhood, and 20016 is a good example. It includes parts of American University Park, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, Cathedral Heights, Kent, and The Palisades, along with the Tenleytown area. Each of those pockets has its own street pattern, housing style, and daily rhythm, which is part of why looking at the specific block and building matters as much as looking at the zip code average.

American University Park, Spring Valley, and Wesley Heights share a common history, since the same developer, W.C. and A.N. Miller, built all three. American University Park consists almost entirely of single-family homes, and the houses in the data below reflect that mix, with a median construction year of 1940 and a median lot size of 0.13 acres. Matt Cheney has closed more than $79 million in career sales volume in zip code 20007, which includes The Palisades and Georgetown.

Transit and daily errands shape how many buyers compare locations here. The Tenleytown-AU Metro station on the Red Line sits a few blocks east of American University Park, and Wisconsin Avenue runs roughly parallel to the Red Line north of that station. Buyers who prioritize commute options, parks, housing type, and long-term flexibility often compare several pockets of 20016 closely before deciding where to focus their search.

Eating and Shopping Along Wisconsin Avenue in 20016

Matt Cheney describes Wisconsin Avenue as the major thoroughfare running through the area, with plenty of shops and restaurants to explore. He points to two Cathedral Heights stops in particular.

The first is Silver at 3404 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Cathedral Commons, a restaurant run by the same group behind Silver Diner. Matt Cheney vouches for the breakfast there, and the restaurant also serves lunch and dinner.

The second is Barcelona Wine Bar at 3310 Wisconsin Avenue NW, a Spanish tapas bar known for its wine program. Matt Cheney and his wife enjoy going there, and he recommends the patatas bravas and the hanger steak. Menu offerings and hours can change, so it is worth checking current details before visiting.

Farther along the corridor, City Ridge on Wisconsin Avenue adds a Wegmans grocery store and additional dining. Business hours and menus change, so it is worth checking each restaurant’s current details before visiting.

How to Read the Bright MLS Numbers for 20016

A few terms appear throughout this post, and each one answers a slightly different question. The average closed price adds up every sale and divides by the number of sales, so a handful of very large sales can pull it upward. The median closed price is the middle sale when every sale is lined up from lowest to highest, which makes it a better picture of a typical home.

Days on market measures how long a property was listed before it went under contract. The close-to-list ratio compares the final closed price with the last list price, so a ratio of 100 percent means the home closed at its asking price, a ratio below 100 percent means it closed under asking, and a ratio above 100 percent means it closed over asking. Price per square foot divides the closed price by the above-ground living area, which helps compare homes of different sizes.

Because 20016 includes so many property types, these measures are most useful when they are compared within a segment, such as houses against houses and condos and co-ops against condos and co-ops.

20016 House Sales From October 2025 to September 2026

From October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, 232 houses closed in 20016. The average closed price was $2,426,350, and the median closed price was $1,959,500, according to Bright MLS data as of October 31, 2026. Prices ranged from $664,000 at the low end to $11,000,000 at the high end, a spread that shows how many different kinds of homes share one zip code.

The average list price for those houses was $2,458,667, and the median list price was $1,936,000. On average, houses closed at 99.31 percent of their list price, and the median house closed at exactly 100 percent of list. In other words, at least half of the houses in 20016 closed at or above the asking price, and the typical difference between list and closed price was small.

Timing was quick for most houses. The average house spent 26 days on the market, while the median house spent only 9 days. When the median sits far below the average, it usually means that most houses sold fast while a smaller number took much longer and pulled the average up. Both figures are worth reading together, and the pace can differ a great deal by price point, condition, and block.

Price per square foot averaged $801.72 across the 232 houses, with a median of $776.17. The typical house had about 2,609 square feet of living space and four bedrooms, which gives a sense of the scale of a median sale in the zip code.

How 20016 House Prices Break Down by Price Range

Looking at the 232 houses by price range gives a clearer picture than the average alone. Nine houses closed below $1,000,000, about 4 percent of the total. The largest group, 111 houses or about 48 percent, closed between $1,000,000 and $1,999,999. Another 56 houses, about 24 percent, closed between $2,000,000 and $2,999,999. The final 56 houses, also about 24 percent, closed at $3,000,000 or higher.

That means 112 of the 232 houses, or roughly half, closed at $2,000,000 or more during the 12-month period, while only a small share closed under $1,000,000. Buyers comparing 20016 with nearby areas may find that entry points are narrow and that lot size, square footage, and condition vary widely within each price band.

At the low end of the data, a 1914 house of 882 square feet on a lot of about 0.02 acres on 41st Street NW closed at $664,000 in August 2026, at 100.76 percent of its list price after only 7 days on the market. At the other end of the lot-size range, a separate house on Chain Bridge Road NW with 1.04 acres closed at $6,500,000 in October 2025. This is a different property from the $11,000,000 sale also on Chain Bridge Road NW described in the next section. The median lot across all 232 houses is 0.13 acres, and the average is 0.16 acres.

Older housing stock is a defining feature of the zip code. The median house in 20016 was built in 1940, and the median property age in the data is 86 years, although newer construction appears at the top of the market, including several houses built in 2025 and 2026.

The Top of the 20016 House Market

The highest-priced sale in 20016 over the 12-month period was a house on Chain Bridge Road NW that closed at $11,000,000 on August 31, 2026. The house has seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and two half bathrooms, about 13,400 square feet of living space, and sits on 0.57 acres. It closed at 100 percent of its list price after one day on the market.

Two other sales closed above $8,000,000: $9,500,000 on 52nd Street NW and $8,750,000 on Nebraska Avenue NW, both in August 2026.

In total, 56 houses closed at $3,000,000 or higher, including 54 above $3,000,000 and two at exactly $3,000,000. Fifteen houses closed at $5,000,000 or higher. These sales appeared on many different streets across the zip code, which shows that activity at the top of the market is not limited to a single pocket.

Matt Cheney can walk buyers and sellers through how a specific property compares with these closed sales, including lot size, square footage, condition, and timing, since no zip code average describes a single home.

20016 Condo and Co-op Sales From October 2025 to September 2026

Condos and co-ops tell a different story. Between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026, 153 condominium and cooperative units closed in 20016, according to Bright MLS data as of October 31, 2026. The average closed price was $473,644 and the median was $399,900, with prices ranging from $144,000 to $1,830,000. The median house price in the zip code was nearly five times the median condo and co-op price.

The average list price for condos and co-ops was $486,408, and the median list price was $409,000. Units closed at an average of 97.47 percent of list and a median of 98 percent, which is a slightly wider gap between asking and closed price than the houses showed.

Condos and co-ops also took longer to sell. The average unit spent 76 days on the market and the median spent 39 days, compared with an average of 26 days and a median of 9 days for houses. Price per square foot averaged $415.47, about half the house average, and the median unit had about 1,013 square feet and was built in 1951.

How 20016 Condo and Co-op Prices Break Down by Price Range

Of the 153 condo and co-op sales, 25 closed below $250,000, 71 closed between $250,000 and $499,999, 53 closed between $500,000 and $999,999, and four closed at $1,000,000 or higher. About 63 percent of all condo and co-op sales, or 96 of 153, closed below $500,000.

A large share of the closed sales came from larger buildings along Cathedral Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, with additional sales in buildings near Wisconsin Avenue, Watson Place, and 39th Street. Most of these buildings were constructed between the 1930s and the 1970s, which helps explain the lower price per square foot, while a smaller number of newer buildings, including units built in 2002, 2005, and 2023, closed at higher prices per square foot.

The highest-priced condo or co-op sale was a three-bedroom unit at 4750 41st Street NW that closed at $1,830,000 on June 17, 2026. Built in 2002, the unit has about 2,635 square feet of living space and spent 229 days on the market before closing at 91.73 percent of its $1,995,000 list price. Another unit at 4200 Massachusetts Avenue NW closed at $1,800,000 in May 2026, after listing at $1,895,000.

Condominium and cooperative ownership work differently, and monthly fees, financing requirements, and approval steps can vary from one building to the next. Buyers and sellers should review each building’s governing documents and financial details with their attorney and lender before making decisions. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.

Days on Market and Pricing Patterns Across 20016

Comparing the two segments side by side shows how different the market can feel depending on what a buyer is shopping for. Houses had a median of 9 days on market and a median close-to-list ratio of 100 percent. Condos and co-ops had a median of 39 days and a median ratio of 98 percent.

Individual results varied widely inside each segment. Several houses closed at more than 110 percent of list, while a handful closed below 90 percent, which is why the typical ratio is more useful than any single sale. Condo and co-op prices per square foot ranged from $153 to $1,252, which shows how much building, age, and condition can matter.

Because 20016 includes so many property types, comparing a home only with the zip code average can be misleading. A comparison with sales of similar size, age, lot, and condition on nearby blocks gives a more useful reference, and Matt Cheney provides that kind of comparison for buyers and sellers.

What the 20016 Numbers May Mean for Sellers

For sellers of houses, the data shows a market where the median home sold quickly and close to its list price. Pricing in line with comparable closed sales may help a listing attract attention early, and the 9-day median suggests that the first days on the market can matter depending on the property and conditions. Results vary by property, price point, condition, timing, and market competition, and no specific result is guaranteed.

For sellers of condos and co-ops, the longer 39-day median and the wider gap between list and closed price suggest that pricing, building details, and presentation can each play a role. Sellers who understand how similar units in their own building and nearby buildings closed are better prepared to set expectations.

The top of the market follows its own patterns. At $3,000,000 and above, 56 houses closed in the 12-month period, and individual results ranged from sales well below list to sales above list. A review of recent closed sales for the specific block and property type is a reasonable first step before setting a price.

What the 20016 Numbers May Mean for Buyers

For house buyers, the figures point to a market where competition for well-priced homes can be active, with a median of 9 days on market. Buyers who prioritize commute options, parks, housing type, and long-term flexibility may find it useful to compare several pockets of the zip code in person, at different times of day, and to review the closed sales on the streets they like.

For condo and co-op buyers, the lower price points and longer days on market can create more room for negotiation in some buildings, depending on the unit, the building, and the timing. Comparing buildings on monthly fees, age, and condition matters as much as comparing list prices.

Anyone weighing 20016 against other parts of Northwest DC can ask Matt Cheney for neighborhood-level numbers for Wesley Heights, Spring Valley, American University Park, and other pockets of the zip code, since the figures in this post cover the full zip code.

Talk With Matt Cheney About Buying or Selling in 20016

To discuss a specific home, building, or block in 20016, contact Matt Cheney at (202) 465-0707. His office is at 5471 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300, in Chevy Chase, MD. You can explore additional neighborhood data and closed-sale comparisons at mattsold.com, and review his full approach to buyer and seller representation at mattsold.com/about. Matt Cheney is a Compass Real Estate advisor with 23+ years of experience and over $780 million in career sales volume, ranked in the Top 1.5% of agents nationally by RealTrends America’s Best.

Frequently Asked Questions About Northwest DC 20016

What neighborhoods are in the 20016 zip code?

The 20016 zip code includes parts of American University Park, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, Cathedral Heights, Kent, and The Palisades, along with the Tenleytown area. The figures in this post cover the full zip code, so they blend several housing types and price points.

What was the average house price in 20016 over the last 12 months?

According to Bright MLS data as of October 31, 2026, 232 houses closed in 20016 between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. The average closed price was $2,426,350, and the median closed price was $1,959,500.

What did condos and co-ops sell for in 20016?

Bright MLS data as of October 31, 2026 shows 153 condo and co-op sales in 20016 over the same period. The average closed price was $473,644, the median was $399,900, and prices ranged from $144,000 to $1,830,000.

How fast do homes sell in 20016?

Houses had a median of 9 days on market and an average of 26 days, while condos and co-ops had a median of 39 days and an average of 76 days. Pace varies by property, price point, condition, and timing.

What was the highest-priced sale in 20016?

The highest-priced house sale was $11,000,000 on Chain Bridge Road NW, closed on August 31, 2026. The highest-priced condo or co-op sale was $1,830,000 on 41st Street NW, closed on June 17, 2026.

Can I get numbers for a specific neighborhood like Wesley Heights or Spring Valley?

Yes. The figures in this post cover the full 20016 zip code, and Matt Cheney can provide neighborhood-level and block-level comparisons. Contact him at (202) 465-0707 to discuss a specific property or area.

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.