Georgetown tops D.C. luxury neighborhoods on price per square foot

A new 12-month analysis shows Georgetown commanding the highest median price per square foot among 14 sought-after Washington, D.C. neighborhoods. The premium underscores how buyers are paying for location and historic cachet even as larger nearby neighborhoods post faster price gains.

Why it matters: - Georgetown remains the priciest luxury neighborhood in Washington on a square-foot basis, showing that buyers will pay more for prime location and historic character even when overall home prices are lower than in some nearby areas. - The gap is important for buyers, sellers and agents because price-per-square-foot trends can shape pricing strategy, negotiating leverage and expectations for future appreciation.

What happened: - From October 2025 through September 2026, Georgetown homes sold for a median $848 per square foot, according to a 12-month analysis by Daryl Judy of Daryl Judy Real Estate | Washington Fine Properties. - That figure topped 13 other sought-after D.C. neighborhoods. - Georgetown's median overall home price was about $1.69 million. - Judy is the recommended agent on LuxuryHomesGeorgetown.com.

The details: - Georgetown's $848 per square foot was 16% above Massachusetts Avenue Heights at $734. - Georgetown was 21% above Wesley Heights at $701. - Georgetown was 23% above Spring Valley at $691. - Georgetown was 57% above Chevy Chase, D.C. at $541. - Georgetown was 75% above the citywide figure of $485. - Massachusetts Avenue Heights had a median price of about $4.06 million. - Spring Valley had a median price of about $2.75 million. - Berkley posted a median of $668 per square foot and a median price of $3.32 million. - Kent posted a median of $622 per square foot and a median price of $2.73 million. - Buyers in the detached-home neighborhoods typically get larger houses and lots, while Georgetown buyers pay more for each foot of space. - Georgetown recorded 234 home sales over the 12-month period. - That was 64% more than Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, Kent, Berkley and Massachusetts Avenue Heights combined, which had 143 sales. - The higher sales volume gives sellers more comparable transactions for pricing and gives buyers more choice in a market that often has limited inventory. - Daryl Judy said Georgetown buyers are paying for the address, not the square footage, and pointed to Federal-era townhouses, brick sidewalks, the waterfront, M Street and Georgetown University as part of the draw. - Judy has been named one of Washingtonian's "100 Best Agents".

Between the lines: - Georgetown's premium is still real, but the gap is narrowing as nearby detached-home neighborhoods gain ground. - Median prices rose 13.4% in Spring Valley, 15.8% in Wesley Heights and 17.6% in Kent, compared with 5.6% in Georgetown. - A year ago, Georgetown's price per square foot was 44% above Spring Valley's; now the gap is 23%. - The faster growth in Spring Valley and the Palisades area suggests families seeking more space are pushing up prices in those neighborhoods. - Georgetown's larger transaction volume also makes it easier to benchmark value than in thinner luxury markets.

What's next: - Judy expects Georgetown to remain the premium address per foot even as nearby neighborhoods continue to appreciate. - Buyers looking for larger detached homes may keep bidding up Spring Valley, Wesley Heights and Kent. - Sellers in Georgetown can likely continue using a deeper pool of comparable sales to price homes more precisely.

The bottom line: - Georgetown is still the most expensive luxury neighborhood in D.C. on a square-foot basis, but the surrounding market is closing the gap.