Most people across America have heard of Capitol Hill in Washington DC. This American landmark has played a pivotal role in the country’s history for hundreds of years.
Known for being the location of the United States Congress, Capitol Hill is the destination for members of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives and other political workers.
But Capitol Hill isn’t only a historic area for politics and congress. It is also one of the largest, most popular, and densely populated neighborhoods in Washington DC for local residents.
Is Capitol Hill a good place to live? Countless politicians and congresspeople have lived in the community of Capitol Hill along with their families. The many beautiful amenities and easy access to other government buildings, ensure anyone with an interest in politics will feel right at home living in Capitol Hill.
Table of Contents
History of Capitol Hill
In 1791, Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant was given the responsibility of choosing the location of the new federal capital. He chose a small, 80-foot high hill near the center of Washington DC and began by calling it “Jenkins Hill”. A couple of years later, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson changed the name to Capitol Hill instead.
The area was slowly developed and eventually completed in 1800, where the capital has remained ever since.
During the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, additional work was done to further establish the area. New buildings were quickly constructed including hospitals and more government offices. One of the biggest times of residential development came between the 1870s and 1880s.
Capitol Hill has long stood as a strong middle-class neighborhood in Washington DC. The Capitol Hill Historic District is among the largest in the country and has also been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Capitol Hill Location & Transportation
Capitol Hill is located 3 miles southeast of Washington DC near the Anacostia River. It is only about 3.5 miles away from the White House. Capitol Hill is bordered by Lincoln Park, East End, Capitol Riverfront, Washington Navy Yard, and H Street Corridor.
The boundaries of Capitol Hill go from around C Street on the north side down to the I-695 Southside Freeway. It then extends from Capitol Street on the west where the US Capitol is, over to 8th Street.
Within this small part of the District of Columbia, zip codes in Capitol Hill include 20001, 20002, 20003, 20024, 20390, 20510, and 20540. The local Capitol Hill area code is 202.
People living in Capitol Hill enjoy access to the same public transportation as other residents of Washington DC. This includes the system of buses and trains provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Locals can also use either Uber or Lyft rideshare services to get around. And depending on your needs, you can even rent a bike in Capitol Hill by using Capital Bikeshare.
People & Culture of Capitol Hill
The population in Capitol Hill is 29,118 with a median age of 35 years old. This population lives in an area just under 2 square miles. Capitol Hill demographics show the diversity of 69% Caucasian, 19% Black or African American, 6% Hispanic or Latino, and 3% Asian. The median household income in Capitol Hill is $122,700 per year, which is nearly twice the US average.
Is Capitol Hill a safe place to live? The crime rate in Capitol Hill is 178% higher than the national average. People residing in Capitol Hill have a 1 in 15 chance of being a victim of crime. Although very desirable, Capital Hill has its issues with crime.
Capitol Hill culture is what you’d expect for a highly political area. Most residents work in government-based positions ranging from clerical workers all the way up to people who work at the White House. Because of its easy access to government buildings, past studies have shown that nearly one-third of Congress members live in Capitol Hill when they are in Washington DC.
Some of the largest employers in Capitol Hill beyond standard government offices are:
- U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
- Food Distribution Center
- United States Navy
- Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center
- MedStar Health Urgent Care in Capitol Hill
Places to Eat, Things to Do, & Shopping in Capitol Hill
In an upscale Washington DC neighborhood like Capitol Hill, you can always expect to find top-rated amenities, fun places to visit, and nice places to eat.
Great Restaurants
One of the best restaurants in Capitol Hill is Ted’s Bulletin, where diners can enjoy a hearty helping of delicious menu items. Choose from an amazing selection of grilled salmon, country fried chicken, filet mignon, sandwiches, burgers, shakes, and more.
View this post on Instagram
Ambar is a tasty place to eat in Capitol Hill with a unique menu of traditional Balkan meals. Try anything from their kebabs or their meatballs to the drunken mussels or the beef short rib goulash. You’re sure to enjoy whatever this popular Capitol Hill restaurant has to offer in its rustic-chic atmosphere.
View this post on Instagram
Fun Local Activities
Most cities across the country have local parks, but few compare to the spectacular beauty of the US Capitol Grounds. Among the best things to do in Capitol Hill, park visitors can wander over 270 acres of land with the United States Capitol and other federal buildings as the backdrop.
View this post on Instagram
As the world’s largest library, the Library of Congress is one of Capitol Hill’s top places to visit. It has more than 170 million items within its collection, including more than 24 million cataloged books. As a research library, visitors come from all over the world to see the spectacular sight of these collections and to read books on-site.
Convenient Shopping Destinations
Since it was opened in 1873, the Eastern Market is one of the most popular places to go shopping in Capitol Hill. Shoppers will find a huge assortment of produce, healthy foods, crafts, and other neat stands around the marketplace.
View this post on Instagram
Jenkins Row is a recently developed residential space and shopping area in Capitol Hill that is still bringing in more new businesses. The lineup of Capitol Hill places to shop at Jenkins Row include Harris Teeter Supermarket, Spring Mobile, Allure Nail Bar, Signal Financial FCU, and more coming soon.
Map of Amenities in Capitol Hill
- Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 544-8337
- Ambar Capitol Hill, 523 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 813-3039
- US Capitol Grounds, Washington, DC 20016 (202) 226-8000
- Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540 (202) 707-5000
- Eastern Market, 225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 698-5253
- Jenkins Row, 1391 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
Capitol Hill Real Estate
While many of the apartment buildings across the area were built during the 1900s or 2000s, most of the single-family homes in Capitol Hill date back to the 1800s. This gives them a unique look that you won’t find in most cities around the country.
Capitol Hill covers about 1.93 square miles, giving it one of the highest residential population densities in the US at nearly 15,000 people per square mile.
Housing in Capitol Hill is much more expensive than the Washington DC average. The average price of a home in Capitol Hill is $779,000 with a median price of $575 per square foot and an average down payment of 14%. Local homes for sale in Capitol Hill range from one-bedroom apartments for around $250,000 up to large, majestic brick houses for millions of dollars.
The average price of rent in Capitol Hill is $2,100, a decrease of about 10% in the last year. For a one-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay around $1,925 per month for Capitol Hill rent. While a two-bedroom location will be around $2,616 per month.
Served by the District of Columbia Public School District, young students in the area attend local Capitol Hill schools including:
- Peabody Elementary School
- Brent Elementary School
- Templeton Academy DC
Moving to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC?
One of the best reasons to move to Capitol Hill is to experience the amazing American history the area has to offer. If you need a mover, our efficient Capitol Hill moving company is here to handle your transition. Call Suburban Solutions today at (301) 928-8669 or fill out the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!
