Upper Chevy Chase

Upper Chevy Chase is one of the lovelier areas of the District, even though it may mislead some into thinking it is actually in Maryland. That it is also affordable makes it a practical must for a variety of different demographics. The houses here are beautiful, perfect for families, and also for people with enough money to retire and settle in to a gorgeous part of town. However, it is worth noting that the neighborhood is entirely residential, with little in the way of amenities except for a CVS, and the occasional diner or local shop (and the occasional eccentricity... not far from here is an actual fishmonger. Yes. A fishmonger. Where else can you say that?)

There is a lot to love in Upper Chevy Chase. And little to even be annoyed by- when traffic and distance to the rest of the city are your neighborhood's only complaints, it must be doing something right.

Upper Chevy Chase is the quieter twin of Chevy Chase DC and MD. While the other Chevy Chases have a lot of shops and amenities, Upper Chevy Chase is almost like their bedroom community. If you want the amenities of the other neighborhoods but prefer quiet, this is a nice place to consider within walking distance. Due to its being quieter though, and less famous, the real estate prices are somewhat lower than those across the neighborhood boundary. You might say Upper Chevy Chase is a neat place for those who want the Chevy Chase, but can’t quite afford it.
Many of the houses here are detached, and have nice big yards. They aren’t as big as the ones in Chevy Chase, but smaller families will still enjoy them. Warm weather will still see people enjoying time outside the house, gardening, having a cookout, and playing in the yard. Because the neighborhood is just off of the beaten path, there’s more parking and although the traffic still isn’t good, it is better than in surrounding neighborhoods. As I see it, that’s a more than fair tradeoff for not having the grocery store on the corner of your block. Crime is almost nonexistent here, and almost exclusively nonviolent property crime.

Upper Chevy Chase is a very nice neighborhood of approximately 2,855 residents located in the northwest section of the city. Located east of Connecticut Avenue N.W. its borders are generally defined by Nebraska Avenue N.W., Oregon Avenue N.W., Tennyson Street N.W.and Broad Branch Road N.W.. In 2010, the average price for a home that sold in this neighborhood was $819,981, with 83% of the homes owner occupied. Homes here, which are detached single family structures, are very nice and range in size and price. Some command very high price tags for their age, style and size.

Upper Chevy Chase is almost exclusively a residential neighborhood with no shopping or restaurants in the neighborhood, so most will travel to other neighborhoods including nearby Chevy Chase. In addition, there are no schools in Upper Chevy Chase, although Lafayette Elementary School is nearby. Residents of the neighborhood can take advantage of the Lafayette Recreation Center. Although most of the neighborhood is wooded, many residents take advantage of the nearby Rock Creek Park. One interesting feature here is the Knollwood Nursing Home located off of Oregon Avenue N.W. Residents will only find one place of worship here as well. Metro Bus has a number of stops within the neighborhood. Traffic can be bad on the feeder roads leading to the neighborhood.

Crime seems to be limited and mostly centered on property crimes according to the latest crime statistics. As always check the most recent crime statistics to make an informed decision concerning the crime risk with any neighborhood. Overall I really like the neighborhood but am not sure of the value for the dollar.