Overview of Bloomingdale
Introduction to Living in Bloomingdale, D.C.
Ask any long-time Washingtonian, and they’ll tell you the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, DC, feels like a village tucked inside the big city.
Tree-canopied Victorian rowhouses line narrow streets, neighbors swap garden tips in the alleys, and weekend mornings revolve around coffee runs and Crispus Attucks Park strolls. Folks come here because they want the convenience of urban life within walking distance of downtown, yet still crave a great little neighborhood where chatting with someone on North Capitol Street doesn’t feel awkward.
Many buyers start by scrolling listings for homes for sale in Bloomingdale and discover prices that, while not cheap, track below Georgetown and Dupont.
Geographical Location
Bloomingdale sits just north of the U.S. Capitol, bounded by Florida Avenue to the south and North Capitol Street to the east. It bumps up against LeDroit Park to the west and Shaw to the south, putting residents within walking distance of Howard University, the NoMa-Gallaudet Metro stop, and, with a brisk stroll, the restaurants in Dupont Circle.
Its 0.25-square-mile footprint means you can live in Bloomingdale and still feel close to nearly all parts of the city, a genuine perk for commuters who prefer a walkable lifestyle.
Cost of Living in Bloomingdale
The real estate market is no secret: median home values hover near $1.01 million, while average rent clears $2,800, putting local real estate costs firmly in the upper tier for the District of Columbia. That said, the housing stock is dominated by handsome rowhouses, many recently updated, so buyers and renters alike feel they’re getting architectural character, historic charm, and solid bones for their dollar.
Niche rankings are based on multiple factors—schools, housing, crime data, and resident reviews—and Bloomingdale routinely cracks the list of best places to live within DC.
Residents own their homes about two-thirds of the time, a figure that stabilizes the block and keeps neighbors invested for decades.
Bloomingdale Crime Reports and Data
Property Crime
Property crime in Bloomingdale’s ZIP code (20001) averages roughly 53 incidents per 1,000 residents each year.
Most of that comes from theft, about 45 thefts per 1,000 residents, while burglary sits under 2 per 1,000.
The odds you’ll fall victim to crime here depend on micro-location; blocks closer to North Capitol Street record more package thefts, while interior residential areas see fewer break-ins.
Anecdotally, Bloomingdale reviews from local listservs stress that unlocked bikes on front porches disappear faster than you can say “helmet,” so common-sense precautions matter.
Violent Crime
Violent crime in the same ZIP runs 9.46 incidents per 1,000 residents, according to CrimeGrade’s 2025 projection. That places Bloomingdale above the national average but below several dense parts of the city.
Assaults make up roughly 4 per 1,000 residents, while robberies run another 4.5 per 1,000; murders remain well under one per 1,000.
Other Crime
Drug-related offenses sit near 2.5 per 1,000 residents, and vandalism clocks in around 19 per 1,000.
Motor-vehicle theft spikes citywide, but Bloomingdale’s narrow streets and resident-only parking zones limit those numbers compared to parts of the city south of Florida Avenue.
Trends in Bloomingdale Crime Rates
Citywide data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows violent crime is down 26 percent year-to-date, and property crime has fallen 5 percent, signaling broader declines that ripple into Bloomingdale.
Long-time Bloomingdale residents point to a neighborhood for decades anchored by block watches, dog-walking routines, and phone trees—the informal nets that keep eyes on the street.
Comparing Crime Rates: Bloomingdale vs. Nearby Cities
Comparison with Washington, DC
District averages for violent crime hover above 10 per 1,000 residents, meaning Bloomingdale is slightly safer than the city as a whole. Property crime citywide exceeds 60 per 1,000, so Bloomingdale’s 53 per 1,000 sits modestly below that benchmark.
Comparison with Nearby Neighborhoods in Washington, DC
LeDroit Park posts a violent crime rate around 7.4 per 1,000—lower than Bloomingdale—yet property offenses track similarly.
Dupont Circle records 7.9 violent crimes per 1,000, again slightly lower, but its higher tourist foot traffic pushes thefts well past Bloomingdale’s numbers.
Georgetown, farther west, enjoys lower overall crime but comes with much higher home prices. Such context matters if you’re comparing places like Bloomingdale against upscale pockets of DC.
Safety Measures and Resources
Chance of Being a Victim of Crime in Bloomingdale
CrimeGrade pegs the chance of being a victim of violent crime in 20001 at roughly 1 in 106 per year, but that swings from 1 in 74 on busier southern edges to 1 in 164 on quieter northern blocks.
For property crime, odds range from 1 in 6 near Rhode Island Avenue’s bar strip to 1 in 36 closer to the residential areas behind Crispus Attucks Park.
Role of the Bloomingdale Police Department
Bloomingdale falls under Police Service Area 501 of MPD’s Fifth District.
Officers coordinate weekly with Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5E, holding public meetings where Bloomingdale residents voice concerns about street lighting, package theft, and noise.
Patrols concentrate along First Street NW and North Capitol Street—routes where nightlife and traffic converge.
Community Safety Initiatives
Neighbor-run groups like the Bloomingdale Civic Association fund alley-light upgrades, and Crispus Attucks Park volunteers keep the hidden green space inviting and feels safe for morning joggers.
These grassroots efforts give Bloomingdale a reputation as a beautifully diverse neighborhood that tackles issues before they snowball.
Living in Bloomingdale: Is it a Safe Place to Live?
So, is Bloomingdale a safe neighborhood?
In DC terms, many consider it one of the safest neighborhoods north of downtown when balanced against accessibility and price. Violent crime sits below city averages, property crime demands vigilance, and community cohesion remains strong.
Walk your dog after dark, and you’ll share sidewalks with families pushing strollers, Howard students headed home, and professionals grabbing late tacos, hardly an atmosphere of fear.
Bloomingdale Safety FAQs
Like many neighborhoods in Washington, DC, Bloomingdale quiets down after 10 p.m., but you will still see neighbors walking along Rhode Island Avenue and the safe main road of North Capitol Street. Streetlights cover most blocks, and ride-hail wait times are under five minutes, lowering the risk window. The most common late-night issue is car break-ins, not assaults, so keep valuables out of sight and stick to well-traveled routes.
Georgetown records lower violent-crime rates than Bloomingdale, partly because it sees fewer late-night bars and has private university security layered on MPD patrols. Dupont Circle’s violent-crime rate is slightly below Bloomingdale’s, but its property-crime rate is higher thanks to a constant flow of tourists and nightlife. When weighing options, factor in affordability, commute convenience, and your own comfort with urban bustle.
Package theft surged citywide during the pandemic and still tops PSA 501 complaint lists. Motor-vehicle theft targets older Hondas and Kias parked on North Capitol Street. MPD data also shows a seasonal uptick in robberies between November and January when daylight hours shrink. Signing up for city text alerts and the Bloomingdale email listserv gives real-time updates on incidents, letting you adjust routines when needed.
Yes. The Bloomingdale Civic Association organizes alley cleanups, lighting audits, and quarterly meetings with Fifth District officers. Crispus Attucks Park hosts movie nights and yoga classes that pull neighbors into shared space, building the social fabric that deters crime. ANC 5E commissioners routinely push for crosswalk upgrades, traffic-calming on Capitol Street, and expanded CCTV networks.
