Overview of Adams Morgan
Introduction to Living in Adams Morgan, DC
Adams Morgan sits in the heart of Northwest DC, a lively neighborhood known for colorful rowhouses, global cafés, and a nightlife strip that keeps bars and restaurants open long past midnight.
Walk a few blocks and you can swap a craft‑beer hub for a quiet residential street lined with single‑family homes and apartments that overlook Rock Creek Park. It’s the kind of place where Adams Morgan residents bump into neighbors at the corner cafe, then catch a quick bus to the White House or a metro ride downtown.
Curious buyers eyeing homes for sale in Adams Morgan, DC, often ask one thing first: is the area safe?
Geographical Location
Perched on a ridge just north of Dupont Circle and west of Columbia Heights, the Adams Morgan neighborhood shares borders with Mount Pleasant to the north and the leafy trails of Rock Creek Park to the west.
Logan Circle, Foggy Bottom, and Petworth sit within easy commuting distance, while Georgetown University and American University are a short crosstown ride away.
Embassy Row begins only a few blocks south, adding an international flair and a noticeable Metropolitan Police Department presence.
Cost of Living in Adams Morgan
Life here in Adams Morgan isn’t cheap.
The median sale price hit roughly $645,000 in June 2025—a jump of 13 percent year over year—and overall cost of living runs about 52 percent higher than the national average,
Rents lean upscale, too, though smaller apartments and accessory units tucked behind rowhouses keep some options reasonably priced.
For many young professionals, the trade‑off is worth it: a walkable hub with green spaces, public transportation, and short proximity to downtown jobs.
Adams Morgan Crime Reports and Data
Property Crime
Property crimes, everything from burglary to theft from auto, clock in at 26.34 incidents per 1,000 residents in a typical year. Theft (19.13), vehicle theft (5.381), and burglary (1.818) make up the bulk.
Those numbers place Adams Morgan near the mid‑pack among DC neighborhoods: safer than Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, and U Street, yet not as quiet as Barnaby Woods or Chevy Chase.
Violent Crime
Violent crime sits lower with 6.188 incidents per 1,000 residents, broken down into assault (2.374), robbery (2.805), rape (0.68), and murder (0.33).
Statistically, an Adams Morgan resident faces about a one‑in‑162 chance of experiencing a violent incident in a given year, slightly better than the DC citywide average and markedly lower than high‑crime clusters east of the river.
Other Crime
Arson is rare here, just 0.009 incidents per 1,000 people, and drug‑related offenses trend close to the city average.
Vehicle theft ticked up in 2024 but has eased in early 2025.
Overall total crime (violent plus property) works out to roughly 32.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, about 19 percent beneath the District’s citywide average of 40 plus.
Trends in Adams Morgan Crime Rates
Citywide, violent crime dropped 35 percent between 2023 and 2024, the lowest figure in three decades.
Adams Morgan mirrored that decline, thanks to expanded foot patrols in PSAs 303 and 304, better illumination along 18th Street, and camera networks funded by local businesses.
Robberies spiked briefly in 2023, but per‑capita counts have since settled below the five‑year median.
Comparing Crime Rates: Adams Morgan vs. Nearby Cities
Comparison of Adams Morgan Crime Rates with Washington, DC
Adams Morgan’s violent crime rate (6.188) edges below the city average (roughly 7.5 per 1,000), while its property crime rate (26.34) lands well under the District’s 42‑per‑1,000 baseline.
The neighbourhood’s crime grade hovers around C overall, compared with a District‑wide D.
Crime Rate Comparison with Nearby Cities
Among Northwest neighborhoods in DC, Adams Morgan’s metrics beat Dupont Circle (D‑grade property, D violent) and Logan Circle (D+ property, C‑ violent), yet trail the safest areas like Barnaby Woods and Chevy Chase on the Maryland line, where violent crime dips below two incidents per 1,000.
Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant show slightly higher property crime rates, while Foggy Bottom sees a heavier tourist‑related theft burden.
In short, Adams Morgan slots into the safer half of DC neighborhoods, though not the very safest echelon.
Safety Measures and Resources
Chance of Being a Victim of Crime in Adams Morgan
Crunch the numbers, and a resident faces about a one‑in‑38 chance of property crime and one‑in‑162 chance of violent crime each year.
For context, the national average sits nearer one‑in‑24 for property crime and one‑in‑95 for violent offenses, so Adams Morgan performs better than the nation as a whole on both counts.
Role of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
PSA 303 officers cover the main nightlife strip, while PSA 304 handles residential areas nearer Rock Creek Park. Both units share bike patrols and nightly walk‑and‑talk events with community groups.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District station on V Street keeps response times short, and embassy security teams add extra eyes along Columbia Road.
Community Safety Initiatives
The Adams Morgan Partnership BID funds new lighting, maintains 50‑plus CCTV cameras, and hosts public safety walks.
Monthly meetings let Adams Morgan residents flag issues ranging from porch package theft to late‑night noise. Pilot traffic‑calming islands on 18th Street and pedestrian‑only mini‑plazas near the zoo playground have trimmed speeding and pick‑pocket incidents.
So, is Adams Morgan One of the Safest Neighborhoods in Washington, DC?
Talk to long‑term neighbors and you’ll hear the same refrain: yes, there’s the occasional incident, mostly petty theft near the main nightlife drag, but day‑to‑day life feels secure.
Streets bustle late into the evening, yet Rock Creek Park trails remain popular running routes at dawn, and local parents tout public safety around the elementary playground on Ontario Road.
For buyers weighing commute times, amenities, and walkability, the neighbourhood offers a balanced risk profil, especially compared with higher crime corridors south of Columbia Heights.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Summary of Crime Statistics
Adams Morgan posts a midsize crime rate: property offenses around 26 per 1,000, violent offenses just over 6, both figures better than the District average yet higher than the quietest suburban pockets.
Most incidents involve theft, not assault, and serious violent crime remains rare.
Future Outlook for Crime in Adams Morgan
With citywide violent crime sliding to a 30‑year low and BID‑funded safety tech expanding, projections point to steady or improving numbers.
Continued coordination among MPD, local business owners, and residents should keep the area trending toward one of the safest neighborhoods in Washington , DC.
Adams Morgan Safety FAQs
How does Adams Morgan’s violent crime rate compare with the national average?
At about 6.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, the violent crime rate here is roughly a third lower than the national average of nine per 1,000.
That positions Adams Morgan ahead of many urban neighborhoods in D.C and beyond.
Is property crime higher near the main nightlife strip?
Yes. Theft clusters along 18th Street where crowd density spikes after dark. Residential side streets see far fewer incidents per resident.
Does proximity to the metro affect safety?
Stations draw foot traffic, and more people can mean more opportunity for petty crime. Still, increased patrols around Columbia Road’s bus corridors and the Woodley Park‑Zoo metro keep serious incidents uncommon.
Are residents comfortable letting kids play outside?
Many parents feel fine with daytime outdoor play in local green spaces—Kalorama Park, Walter Pierce, and the zoo playground—thanks to steady foot traffic, dog walkers, and regular MPD sweeps.
Evening hours still call for the usual big‑city awareness, but Adams Morgan remains a popular place to live for young residents seeking a walkable, amenity‑rich hub with many parks close at hand.
