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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Washington, DC is $2,347/month as of 2026-03. That is -0.1% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,347/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
-0.1%
Monthly ZORI index values for Washington, DC.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $2,347 | +0.64% |
| 2026-02 | $2,332 | +0.47% |
| 2026-01 | $2,321 | +0.04% |
| 2025-12 | $2,320 | -0.47% |
| 2025-11 | $2,331 | -0.68% |
| 2025-10 | $2,347 | -0.59% |
| 2025-09 | $2,361 | -0.42% |
| 2025-08 | $2,371 | -0.17% |
| 2025-07 | $2,375 | -0.04% |
| 2025-06 | $2,376 | +0.17% |
| 2025-05 | $2,372 | +0.38% |
| 2025-04 | $2,363 | +0.60% |
| 2025-03 | $2,349 | +0.90% |
| 2025-02 | $2,328 | +0.74% |
| 2025-01 | $2,311 | +0.35% |
| 2024-12 | $2,303 | -0.26% |
| 2024-11 | $2,309 | -0.43% |
| 2024-10 | $2,319 | -0.43% |
| 2024-09 | $2,329 | -0.09% |
| 2024-08 | $2,331 | +0.30% |
| 2024-07 | $2,324 | +0.69% |
| 2024-06 | $2,308 | +0.87% |
| 2024-05 | $2,288 | +0.88% |
| 2024-04 | $2,268 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report