Washington

Shortest commutes to Downtown Washington

Ranked on distance to Downtown Washington at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·60 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Rossyln viewed from Georgetown Waterfront Park in June 2026
Arlington$895k median · 26.2 min commute
Commute B−Housing C−Cost of living B
80
Commute score
overall 73 B
2
The City Hall at College Park MD
College Park$438k median · 26.2 min commute
Commute C+Housing FCost of living B−
76
Commute score
overall 49 D+
3
Bailey's Crossroads$417k median · 27.5 min commute
Commute CHousing FCost of living B+
74
Commute score
overall 61 C
4
United States Capitol, Washington D.C.
Washington$737k median · 30.0 min commute
Commute CHousing DCost of living A−
73
Commute score
overall 67 C+
5
Images of Bethesda, Maryland, including the Bethesda Meetinghouse, Madonna of the Trail statue, NIH campus, downtown area, Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda Theater, an
Bethesda$1.17M median · 27.7 min commute
Commute C+Housing B−Cost of living B−
72
Commute score
overall 73 B
6
The Old Town district of Alexandria, Virginia as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
Alexandria$735k median · 28.4 min commute
Commute C+Housing D+Cost of living B−
72
Commute score
overall 64 C+
7
Capital One Aerial #1057 112122 Lkg SW
Tysons$640k median · 26.7 min commute
Commute C+Housing DCost of living B−
70
Commute score
overall 67 C+
8
Annandale - Virginia, USA in Nov. 2015 Photo: Persian Dutch Network
Annandale$681k median · 27.3 min commute
Commute CHousing D+Cost of living B
69
Commute score
overall 65 C+
9
Hickory Hill is a large brick house in McLean, Virginia, in the United States, owned by a succession of notable public figures. Architectural historians, noting
McLean$1.41M median · 28.1 min commute
Commute CHousing ACost of living C
69
Commute score
overall 72 B−
10
View west along U.S. Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard) from an overpass for an unnamed road just west of Virginia State Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and Virginia State
West Falls Church$707k median · 28.7 min commute
Commute CHousing C−Cost of living B
68
Commute score
overall 69 B−
This list's weighting
Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%
Other Washington lists
Best Washington suburbs for familiesMost affordable Washington suburbsBest Washington suburbs for schoolsMost walkable Washington suburbsBest Washington suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Washington suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Arlington (Theodore Christopher · CC0); College Park (Blacktupelo · CC BY-SA 4.0); Washington (Ralf Roletschek (talk) - Infos über Fahrräder auf fahrradmonteur.de Wikis in der · CC BY-SA 3.0); Bethesda (westroopnerd · CC BY-SA 4.0); Alexandria (Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 3.0); Tysons (Duane Lempke · CC BY-SA 4.0); Annandale (PersianDutchNetwork · CC BY-SA 4.0); McLean (Beltway Photos · CC BY 2.0); West Falls Church (Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0).