Southwest Waterfront (prime, ~$64/sqft/yr) is one of 6 Washington DC Class A submarkets we track.

  • Southwest Waterfront sits at prime tier.
  • Average rent $64/sqft/yr vs city average 58.
  • Compared submarkets: East End (trophy), Central Business District (prime), NoMa (prime).

Southwest Waterfront vs other Washington DC submarkets

Southwest Waterfront (prime, ~$64/sqft/yr) is one of 6 Washington DC Class A submarkets we track.

TL;DR

  • Southwest Waterfront sits at prime tier.
  • Average rent $64/sqft/yr vs city average 58.
  • Compared submarkets: East End (trophy), Central Business District (prime), NoMa (prime).

Side-by-side with peers

**East End** (trophy, $75/sqft/yr) — DC's principal trophy submarket. **Central Business District** (prime, $60/sqft/yr) — K Street's traditional law and lobbying spine. **NoMa** (prime, $55/sqft/yr) — Repositioned tech and government corridor north of Union Station. **Georgetown & West End** (established, $58/sqft/yr) — Boutique HQ market on the river. **Arlington (Rosslyn–Ballston)** (prime, $52/sqft/yr) — Defense and tech corridor across the Potomac.

Key facts

cityWashington DC
submarketSouthwest Waterfront
tierprime
averageRentLocal$64/sqft/yr
cityClassARentUsd$58/sqft/yr
cityVacancyPct19.4%

Frequently asked questions

What other submarkets compete with Southwest Waterfront in Washington DC?
East End, Central Business District, NoMa

Related

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

Full sources index · Submit a correction

Related topics