Overview of Findings
Apartment List has released Washington, DC’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Washington, DC renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "However, ratings varied greatly across different categories, indicating that even though renters love Washington, DC, some aspects can be better."
Key findings in Washington, DC include the following:
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Washington, DC renters gave their city an A- overall.
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The highest-rated categories for Washington, DC were jobs and career opportunities and public transit, which both received A+ grades.
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The areas of concern to Washington, DC renters are affordability (D) and state and local taxes (C).
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Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of A.
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Washington, DC did relatively well compared to other cities nationwide, including New York, NY (C+), Los Angeles (C+) and Chicago, IL (B-).
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The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
- "DC has the perfect balance of fun, historical museums and eclectic neighborhoods filled with young people. There’s so much to do, even though it’s a fraction the size of other cities." – Alison P.
- "I love the options of things to do, from art to sports. But the high cost of living can make it hard to enjoy the amenities." – Jaryn E.
- "DC is amazing because each neighborhood has its own vibe and you’re able to feel like you’re in a smaller city instead of a large metropolis." – Allison T.
- "I love the free museums and that there’s always something to do. But the rent is too expensive for the quality of the apartments." – Kathryn C.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
