Washington D.C.'s population has soared over the past decade. And to accommodate that growth, the housing market has expanded into the one-time farmlands of Maryland and Virginia, where lot prices are much cheaper.
That has helped keep a lid on home prices in the hot D.C. market. During the last three months of 2012, the median price for homes in the area was just over $300,000, less than half the amount you'd pay in other major metro areas, like San Francisco
Local rents, however, have risen as a steady supply of government jobs has attracted many young workers. Over the course of just three years, homebuyers can save 12% compared to renters, Trulia found, and 41% over seven years.
