The Washington D.C. metropolitan area holds a prestigious position in the U.S. housing market as it consistently ranks as one of the top regions for mansion ownership, coming in second only to New York City.
According to recent data from Zillow, a mansion is defined as a home encompassing over 5,000 square feet. In the D.C. region, approximately 65,300 homes fit this definition, while New York City tops the list with around 81,000 mansions.
This data highlights the D.C. area’s per-capita dominance in mansion ownership, considerably exceeding that of New York, the largest metropolitan area in the nation.
When comparing the four additional metropolitan areas larger than D.C.:
Los Angeles follows with about 41,200 mansions.
Chicago has around 32,600.
Dallas boasts about 36,300.
Houston comes in with approximately 34,400.
Atlanta, which is closely tied in population to D.C., holds the third spot in the U.S. for mansion count with 61,300 mansions, as indicated by the analysis.
Overall, there are about 1.37 million homes classified as mansions across the nation.
Price variations for these larger homes are notable depending on the jurisdiction.
In the Washington D.C. area, mansions have an average selling price of around $1.58 million, a relatively affordable option compared to many California markets.
In stark contrast, mansion prices soar to more than $4.5 million in San Diego, $4.7 million in Los Angeles, $4.9 million in San Francisco, and an astounding $6.5 million in San Jose.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, four large metropolitan areas—Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Memphis—boast median mansion costs of less than $1 million.
The national median price for homes of 5,000 square feet or larger is reported at $1.44 million.
For those looking to stick to a budget, Zillow analysts offer a glimmer of hope.
They note that in 21 of the 50 biggest metro areas, ‘starter mansions’—those in the 25th percentile of mansion values—can be found for under $1 million.
However, Zillow analysts also advise potential buyers to tread carefully.
“More house often means more ongoing expenses,” they state, reminding buyers to prepare for higher property taxes, insurance, utility bills, and maintenance costs, which can range from 1% to 4% of the home’s value each year.
Additionally, the analysts stress the importance of ensuring that the large space aligns with one’s lifestyle rather than merely serving as a dream.
In the D.C. region, around 16% of homes classified as 5,000-square-feet or more are currently listed at prices below $1 million, according to Zillow data.
Potential buyers in Fairfax County will find over 400 properties with 5,000 or more square feet available for purchase, according to a survey conducted on August 16.
Most of these properties are situated in northern and central Fairfax, with a scattering of larger homes throughout the county.
One of the more affordable options is a 5,150-square-foot home on Wetherburn Drive in Centreville, listed for $1,099,000.
For buyers seeking luxury, more than 100 properties feature in excess of 7,500 square feet of interior space.
The most expensive listing currently on the market is a grand estate measuring 16,000 square feet, situated on 16.5 acres along E. Boulevard Drive in Fort Hunt, which is up for sale at an eye-popping $60 million.
Despite some economic uncertainty stemming from President Donald Trump’s administration and its efforts to downsize the federal workforce, the D.C. area has exhibited strong resilience in home prices.
Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that the region has outperformed national averages in home price appreciation.
In the second quarter, the median sales price for single-family homes in the D.C. area stood at $681,900, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous quarter’s median of $666,600.
In contrast, the national median sales price saw an uptick of 1.7%, landing at $429,400.
While a general cooling was observed nationwide, marked by a reduction in the percentage of metro markets experiencing price gains—from 83% in the first quarter of 2025 to 75%—the D.C. region remained robust.
Only 5% of areas recorded double-digit price gains in the second quarter, a decline from 11% earlier in the year.
Elevated mortgage rates have kept sales lower than pre-COVID levels, according to NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun, contributing to slower price growth.
Looking ahead, Yun suggests that if interest rates drop, the greatest rebound in housing demand is likely to emerge in states that have seen notable job growth in recent years, such as Idaho, Utah, the Carolinas, Florida, and Texas.
Regionally, the Northeast recorded the most significant year-over-year increase in sales prices at 6.1%, reaching a median of $527,200.
The Midwest followed with a rise of 3.5% to $328,800, while the West saw only a modest increase of 0.6%, reaching a median of $646,100.
Contrarily, the South region maintained a steady median sales price of $376,300.
The increments in home prices, especially in the Midwest and Northeast, are attributed to affordability and limited inventory, respectively.
The South, particularly Florida and Texas, is experiencing a price correction likely due to increased new home construction.
In terms of highest median sales price, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in California leads the way, showcasing a 6.5% increase to $2,138,000, while eight of the top ten most expensive metropolitan areas are located in California.
Honolulu and Boulder, Colorado, round off the top ten, with median sales prices of $1,148,600 and $859,500, respectively.
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