Washington DC has 6 distinct Class A submarkets we track, anchored by East End at the trophy tier.

  • 6 submarkets covered.
  • Trophy tier: East End.
  • Prime tier: Central Business District, NoMa, Southwest Waterfront, Arlington (Rosslyn–Ballston).
  • Established/emerging tier: Georgetown & West End.

Washington DC Class A submarkets

Washington DC has 6 distinct Class A submarkets we track, anchored by East End at the trophy tier.

TL;DR

  • 6 submarkets covered.
  • Trophy tier: East End.
  • Prime tier: Central Business District, NoMa, Southwest Waterfront, Arlington (Rosslyn–Ballston).
  • Established/emerging tier: Georgetown & West End.

By tier

**East End** (trophy, ~$75/sqft/yr) — DC's principal trophy submarket. **Central Business District** (prime, ~$60/sqft/yr) — K Street's traditional law and lobbying spine. **NoMa** (prime, ~$55/sqft/yr) — Repositioned tech and government corridor north of Union Station. **Southwest Waterfront** (prime, ~$64/sqft/yr) — The Wharf-anchored mixed-use frontier. **Georgetown & West End** (established, ~$58/sqft/yr) — Boutique HQ market on the river. **Arlington (Rosslyn–Ballston)** (prime, ~$52/sqft/yr) — Defense and tech corridor across the Potomac.

Key facts

cityWashington DC
countryUnited States
regionAmericas
classARentLocal58 USD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$58/sqft/yr
vacancy19.4%
typicalLeaseYears10
typicalRentFreeMonths14
submarkets6
primeYieldPct6.3%
trophyCount1
primeCount4

Frequently asked questions

How many Class A submarkets are in Washington DC?
6, ranging from trophy (East End) down to established and emerging clusters.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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