Tenleytown

Tenleytown is a really neat place to hang out near American University. A national historic district, Tenleytown is full of beautiful old homes. But unlike many others like this, the neighborhood does have plenty of shops and restaurants. In fact, you can find just about anything you might need here. Multi use buildings combine retail with living space, and a night out on the town is very much possible here. In fact, plenty of people enjoy a nice drink after work before settling in for the night. There is a Metro station, and as a result many residents don’t need a car unless their employment or recreation take them into farther afield or more obscure areas.
Lots of families live here, and it is no wonder: unlike much of the District, the neighborhood public schools are actually quite good. One reason for this I am sure is the strong community in Tenleytown: they have no time for underachievement, and without enough money to pay for private school, these residents can put a lot of pressure on the local politicians. They aren’t as political as their counterparts in Takoma, but that doesn’t mean they don’t serve as the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.

Tenleytown is a very nice neighborhood in the northwest section of the city and has approximately 1,500 residents, depending upon where the borders are drawn. I have spent lots of time here and really love it here. In 2010, the price for the average home sold here was $830,000 with 79% being owner occupied. The neighborhood is a mix of commercial buildings as well as attached and detached single family homes.

There are numerous public and private schools in the neighborhood including St. Anne's School, Janney Elementary School, Deal Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Senior High School. Older learners will find American University's Tenley Campus located here. There are numerous shopping and restaurant opportunities within the neighborhood, especially in the area near the Tenleytown Metro station. Whole Foods has a store in this area. Fort Reno Park provides green space for the residents. There are many places to worship within the neighborhood as well. The worst part of this neighborhood can be the traffic along Wisconsin Avenue as people commute into and out of the city for work.

Crime statistics indicate that the neighborhood is relatively safe although crimes against people and property do occur. As always check recent crime statistics and make an informed decision as to the crime risk before moving into any neighborhood.