One in Four People Looking at Homes in the DC Area Don't Live Here

• February 3rd 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

A study last month revealed that more than one in four home searches in the DC region originate from outside the area. 

A Zillow analysis concluded that 26% of home searches originated outside the metro area. Of those searches, most came from the Baltimore, New York City, and Virginia Beach metro areas. Fewer than half (43.7%) of DC-area home searches were done by current residents, a percentage that is on-par for large cities nationwide. 

Of the DC zip codes with a high proportion of searches from outside the region, 20006 leads the way with 48%. The 20007 zip code, which includes Georgetown and the 20008 zip code (Cleveland Park) follow closely behind with 45% and 44% respective page views coming from elsewhere.

Perhaps unsurprisingly amid construction of Amazon's second headquarters, Arlington's 22202 zip code leads northern Virginia in searches from outside the area with 36%; Old Town Alexandria's 22314 zip code comes in a close second with 35.7%.

The study uses IP addresses to identify user location and used three months of Zillow search data, including both rental and for-sale listings. The study defines the DC metro area using the Census Metropolitan Statistical Area definition, which includes areas like Frederick, Maryland; Jefferson County, West Virginia; and Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Correction: The article previously stated that most incoming searches of DC-area homes originated from Virginia Beach, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Most incoming searches of DC-area homes originated from Baltimore, New York, and Virginia Beach.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/one-in-4-people-looking-at-homes-in-the-dc-area-dont-live-here/16410.