Anacostia Park
An outdoor pool, free fitness equipment, a roller-skating pavilion and ball fields, in a 1,200-acre park along the river.
Fairlawn, Washington DC
Buying a home in Fairlawn
Detached houses, semi-detached homes and rowhouses with easy access to riverfront recreation.
What it costs here
$470K
Median house price · 231 sales
$384
Median per square foot
+65%
Renovated over average condition
Recorded arm’s-length sales from DC’s assessment records, through August 12, 2026. Not an appraisal or a valuation of any particular home. Compare every DC neighborhood
Highlights
Fairlawn landmarks
Fairlawn borders Anacostia Park, and Capitol Hill is across the Sousa Bridge.
The Riverwalk Trail
The Anacostia Riverwalk connects Fairlawn to Nationals Park, Navy Yard and the Arboretum by bike or on foot.
11th Street Bridge Park
A park planned on the piers of the former 11th Street Bridge, with a lawn, an amphitheater, a play area and a kayak launch. Opening is expected in mid-2029.
Transportation
Getting around Fairlawn
- Nearest Metro
- Fairlawn has no Metro station. Anacostia (Green) and Potomac Ave (Blue, Orange, Silver) are each across a short bridge.
- Bus
- Bus routes on Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Minnesota Avenue run to Capitol Hill and downtown.
- Bike & trails
- The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is at the bottom of the hill; Nationals Park is a fifteen-minute ride.
- Parking
- Few blocks are permit-zoned, and street parking is unrestricted on most. Some rowhouses have a parking pad or garage off the rear alley.
Worth watching: DDOT is rebuilding the Pennsylvania & Minnesota Avenue SE intersection at Fairlawn's corner. The final design was shown in early 2026, construction is expected to take about two years, and the project replaces the highway-style interchange with a safer crossing and new public space.
Neighborhood
Living in Fairlawn
Schools, restaurants, parks, and shopping in the neighborhood.
- Schools
- Kimball Elementary is in a fully rebuilt campus, and John Philip Sousa Middle is up the hill. The school and the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge are both named for the composer John Philip Sousa.
- Dining & nights out
- Thai Orchid's Kitchen on Pennsylvania Avenue, Munchies Halal, Lee's Brunch and DCity Smokehouse nearby, and the Barracks Row and Eastern Market restaurants across the bridge.
- Parks & recreation
- Anacostia Park's pirate-ship playground, skating pavilion and riverfront lawn, and Fort Stanton's trails up the hill.
- The library
- The Anacostia branch library on Good Hope Road is the closest, and the Adjaye-designed Francis Gregory branch is up Alabama Avenue.
- Groceries
- Lidl at Skyland Town Center is the closest full-size grocery, a five-minute drive up Good Hope Road.
- On foot
- Anacostia Park and the river trail are within walking distance; the grocery store at Skyland is a short drive.
Next steps
Next steps by buying stage
Pick the step that matches where you are in buying a home.
01 · Still running numbers
Work out what you can afford
Estimate the full monthly payment, including DC property tax, insurance and any condo fee. The condo fee counts in full in your debt-to-income ratio.
See what you can afford →02 · Saving up
Plan the down payment
At Fairlawn prices, the down payment depends on the loan program and the property type. FHA needs 3.5% down, and the whole down payment can be a gift from family.
See what you'd need →03 · Writing offers
Get a pre-qualification letter
Attach a pre-qualification letter to your offer. Pre-qualification takes about two minutes and does not pull your credit.
Get pre-qualified →
Nearby
Neighborhoods near Fairlawn
Fairlawn is between Historic Anacostia and the Bridge District.
FAQ
Fairlawn mortgage questions
What loans do buyers use in Fairlawn?
Conventional and FHA loans both work here. A conventional loan starts at 3% down for first-time buyers and 5% for other buyers, and an FHA loan needs 3.5% down. The median house price in Randle Highlands and Fairlawn was $470,000 in recorded sales through August 2026 (DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer data).
Which DC buyer programs apply at Fairlawn prices?
First-time buyers within DC's income limits pay the reduced 0.725% recordation tax rate on purchases up to $777,000 (tax year 2026). The DC Tax Abatement program waives recordation tax and abates property tax for five years on purchases up to $576,000. The $470,000 median is under both caps. HPAP, through DHCD-certified housing counseling agencies, offers up to $202,000 plus $4,000 toward closing costs to buyers within its income limits.
How do appraisals work in a neighborhood as small as Fairlawn?
Fairlawn is compact, so there are fewer recent comparable sales for an appraiser to work from, and a renovated house may not have obvious comps supporting its contract price. That can produce an appraisal below what you agreed to pay, which affects your loan amount. Plan for it in the offer with appraisal contingency terms and an offer price based on recent sales.
How does the Bridge District affect Fairlawn?
The Bridge District's build-out at Poplar Point and the 11th Street Bridge Park, a roughly $92 million project converting the old span into an elevated park, both sit immediately downriver. Neither project adds homes for sale in Fairlawn.
Will I need a jumbo loan in Fairlawn?
Not at Fairlawn prices. A loan is jumbo in DC for 2026 only when the loan amount is above $1,249,125, and the median house price in Randle Highlands and Fairlawn was $470,000 (recorded sales through August 2026), so purchases here use conforming loans. If you see $832,750 quoted as DC's limit, that is the national baseline; DC is a designated high-cost area with the higher limit.
What kind of housing is in Fairlawn?
Detached houses, semi-detached homes and rowhouses on a small street grid above Anacostia Park. These homes have no condo project review and no association dues in your debt-to-income ratio, and a renovation loan can finance one that needs some TLC.
Ask a question
A licensed DC loan officer will answer your question by email within one business day.
Before you buy
What to know before buying in Fairlawn
The median house price in Fairlawn and Randle Highlands was $470,000 in recorded sales through August 2026.
Detached houses, semi-detached homes and rowhouses
Fairlawn has detached houses, semi-detached homes and rowhouses on a small street grid. They have no condo project review and no association dues in your debt-to-income ratio.
Anacostia Park and the Bridge District
Fairlawn is directly above Anacostia Park and the Riverwalk Trail, with the 11th Street Bridge Park and the Bridge District construction immediately downriver.
Appraisals in a small neighborhood
Fairlawn is small, so there are fewer recent comparable sales to support a contract price, especially on a renovated house. Plan for a low appraisal in the offer terms.
Ferries, bridges and trolleys across the river, starting in George Washington's presidency, built this neighborhood. Read the story of Fairlawn and old Twining.
Find out what you qualify for
DC program eligibility depends on household size and income. Your loan officer will check yours against the current income tables.