What Is Happening With DC-Area Rents In 2026?

• 9:14 AM EDT

by UrbanTurf Staff

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A new report from ApartmentList shows that apartment rents in the DC region have fallen over the past year, a reversal from the modest growth the market was seeing at this time in 2025.

The overall median rent in the region currently stands at $2,113, after rising 1% last month. However, rents are down 4.2% year-over-year, an annual decline that outpaces the national trend: the national median rent now stands at $1,379, down 1.5% compared to one year ago. 

Despite the year-over-year drop, DC's 2026 pace of seasonal growth is running close to last year's. Five months into the year, rents have risen 1.9% — a similar rate of growth to what the area was experiencing at this point last year, when rents had increased 1.8% from January to May 2025.

A look across the region tells a story of softening rents. In Arlington, the overall median rent stands at $2,609 — down 1.4% year-over-year, though rents there have risen 3.4% so far in 2026, tracking close to last year's pace. In Alexandria, the median rent is $2,239, down 2.9% year-over-year. Bethesda's median rent currently stands at $2,159, down 1.6% over the past year, while North Bethesda comes in at $2,245, down 2.6%. In Rockville, the overall median is $2,485, down 2% year-over-year. 

The declines in those close-in jurisdictions are notable given that Arlington and Alexandria led the region in rent growth as recently as mid-2025, when Arlington was up roughly 4% year-over-year and Alexandria was up 3.6%. The reversal reflects broader national headwinds: a historic wave of new multifamily construction that peaked in 2024 with more than 600,000 new units delivered — the most in a single year since 1986 — has kept vacancy elevated and eroded landlords' pricing power across many major metros.

For the full report, click here. 

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/what_is_happening_with_dc-area_rents_in_2026/24750.