Selling Your DC Rowhouse and Buying in Arlington: A Side-by-Side Comparison for Families
Last Updated: April 15, 2026
If you own a rowhouse in NW DC right now, it is probably worth somewhere between $1 and $1.7 million. If you are in Petworth, Columbia Heights, or Glover Park, you are likely in the $1 to $1.4 million range. In Shaw, closer to $1.5 to $1.7 million. Either way, you are in a renovated rowhouse. Three bedrooms, maybe four. Great block. Walking distance to restaurants, Metro, all of it.
But most of the families we work with at The Davenport Group, the #1 real estate team in Arlington by sales volume in 2025, brokered by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, are starting to ask the same question: what does that equity actually get me on the other side of the river?
TL;DR / Quick Summary
- Your NW DC rowhouse is likely worth $1M to $1.7M depending on neighborhood
- At a similar price point in Arlington, the square footage is comparable but you get a detached home with a real yard, a driveway, and access to schools rated 7 to 9 on GreatSchools.org
- DC will probably be more updated inside. Arlington wins on yard, neighborhood feel, and schools.
- Most families sell their DC rowhouse and use that equity to step into the $1.5M to $2.5M range in Arlington
What That Money Looks Like in Arlington
In neighborhoods like Westover, Cherrydale, or Bluemont, your DC equity gets you a detached single-family home. Same era as your rowhouse, 1940s or 1950s. Three to four bedrooms. The square footage is going to be similar and your DC rowhouse is probably more updated inside.
But here is what changes. You get a real yard. A driveway. A neighborhood where your kids are riding bikes in the street and you know every family on the block. And schools rated 7 to 9 on GreatSchools.org compared to 4 to 8 in most NW DC neighborhoods. That is the conversation that changes everything for the families we work with.
The Equity Bridge Most People Do Not Think About
Most families we work with are not buying at the same price point in Arlington. They are selling their DC rowhouse at $1 to $1.7 million and using that equity to step into the $1.5 to $2.5 million range. That puts you near Westover, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Donaldson Run. Newer construction. More space. Schools rated 8 or 9 on GreatSchools.org.
The appreciation you have built in DC over the past five to seven years is the bridge. We recently worked with clients who bought their place in NW DC a few years back and sold it for close to $1M. That equity got them into a home in North Arlington that they never thought was in reach. Their payment went up, we are not going to sugarcoat that. But they went from a rowhouse that was bursting at the seams to a home their family can grow into for the next ten years.
The Honest Tradeoffs
We are not going to pretend Arlington replaces everything you love about DC. You will miss the walkability. The restaurant density. Being able to walk to five different spots on a Tuesday night. Arlington has great restaurants, but the density is different.
What you gain is real. Space for your family. A yard your kids and dog can actually use. Schools you are not stressing about. And DC is 15 minutes away when you want it.
Ready to Run the Numbers?
The question is not which is better. The question is what does your family need right now, and what are you going to need in two or three years? We have walked dozens of DC families through this exact comparison. Text us directly at 703-350-8800 and we will give you an honest read on what the move looks like for your situation.
Resources & Next Steps
- Search the Market: View All Homes for Sale in Arlington
- Go New Construction: Explore Arlington New Builds
- Neighborhood Deep Dive: The Complete Arlington Neighborhood Library
- Eat Like a Local: Our 2026 Arlington Food & Drink Guide
- Join the Club: Get Access to the Local Perks Club
- Let’s Talk Strategy: Book a Discovery Call with The Davenport Group