Hill East

This neighborhood really does seem to have everything. Lovely, affordable houses, churches and schools, lots of opportunity for community outreach, and even a stadium for soccer fans. The success and community spirit of this neighborhood is certainly a shining example of what areas around it could be, but it can take a large amount of time and effort for any place to get on its feet this way. Hill East is the perfect area for families and singles on a budget. What more could anyone want?

I remember running thru this neighborhood of 13,807 residents a few years ago when I ran the Capitol Hill Classic 10K. I liked it then and like it more now. In general the neighborhood is located the southeast section of the city. The borders of the neighborhood in general follow the Anacostia River, 11th Street S.E.and East Capitol Street S.E. In 2010, the average price for a home here was $619,966 and 50% of the homes were owner occupied. The median age of the residents of Hill East was 36.8 years old.

In addition to Congressional Cemetery, RFK Stadium and the D.C. Armory, you will find three Metro Stations located in the neighborhood allowing excellent access to other areas within the city as well as the suburbs. There are a number of public schools here including Eastern Senior High School, Payne Elementary and Watkins Elementary. Th Watkins Recreational Center and Payne Recreation Center provide residents recreational opportunities. There are many restaurants to enjoy in the neighborhood as well as shopping opportunities, including a Harris Teeter grocery store.

Crime seems to be focused on vehicle thefts, although crimes against people occur as well. As always do your own research on current crime statistics to make an informed decision before you move into any neighborhood.

Hill East is a great residential neighborhood adjacent to Capitol Hill and the Anacostia. It is primarily residential, but just far enough from downtown that there is space for plenty of services such as full sized supermarkets. For this reason, it is walkable and sufficiently close to everything that you won’t feel too far out in the suburbs. Residents love to use the adjacent Congressional cemetery as a place to walk the dog, and children love to play in the yards. Many young families with children have moved here, and housing costs are reasonable by DC standards.
While there are some bars and restaurants in Hill East, there aren’t nearly as many as you find in Capitol Hill. However, you can quickly get to that part of town if you want; it is longish walking distance, or take the Metro one stop. Parking is easy to come by. Crime is a bit higher, but still manageable and most residents still feel safe there.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of Hill East (also called Barney Circle) is the strong sense of community. It is the sort of place where residents know each other by name, and help one another with yard work. If you are out of town, you could count on your neighbors to keep an eye on the house. There is also a civic association that advocates for local concerns.

Hill East is a small, primarily residential neighborhood just east of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It is a pretty little community marked by old trees and row houses from the turn of the last century. The residents are a pretty diverse group, ranging from elderly retirees who have lived in their homes for decades to young professionals who just moved to DC last week.
While there are no fast food or chain restaurants to speak of, there are several little mom and pop style eateries. These tend to be pretty crowded at lunch time, as people rush home from the Hill for a quick bite to eat. There are even fewer places to shop, so if you need diapers or milk, plan to take either the Potomac Avenue or Stadium Armory Metros to another part of town for those.
Like the rest of DC, there’s always plenty to do in Hill East. Both the Watkins and Payne Recreation Centers are nearby and offer a wide variety of social and athletic opportunities. They also each have well-appointed work out rooms.