Survivability Rankings for Day Care Center in Washington DC
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Washington DC to open a Day Care Center, from Old Town North (81% survival) to Ca...
By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- #1 Neighborhood: Old Town North: 81% average survivability for Day Care Center
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 80 of 129 analyzed
- City-wide average: 76% for Day Care Centers
- Most challenging area: Cathedral Heights at 73%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~14.7% more expected revenue in Old Town North
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Day Care Center Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Day Care Center Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Day Care Center a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Old Town North leads Washington DC's 2026 survivability rankings for Day Care Center operators with 81% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 82% and the most challenging locations in Old Town North at 78%. The worst neighborhoods include Cathedral Heights with 73% average chance. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a Day Care Center?
Old Town North ranks #1 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Washington DC for Day Care Center survivability, with a 81% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
| Rank | Neighborhood | At a good address | Average Locations | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Town North | 81.5% | 78.0% to 83.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 2 | Douglass | 81.0% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 81.0% to 83.0% | 75.0% to 77.0% |
| 3 | Sudley | 81.0% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 81.0% to 82.0% | 70.0% to 72.0% |
| 4 | Potomac Yard/Potomac Greens | 80.1% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 80.0% to 81.0% | 72.0% to 74.0% |
| 5 | Buena Vista | 80.1% | 75.0% to 79.0% | 81.0% to 82.0% | 73.0% to 75.0% |
| 6 | Randle Highlands | 79.7% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 76.0% to 77.0% |
| 7 | Dupont Circle | 79.7% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 8 | Near Northeast | 79.7% | 75.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 9 | Anacostia | 79.7% | 75.0% to 79.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 72.0% to 73.0% |
| 10 | West End | 79.2% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% | 76.0% to 78.0% |
However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →
Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.
Where in or Around Washington DC Would a Day Care Center Make the Most Money?
In Old Town North, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~14.7% more than the average location in or around Washington DC.
On the other hand, in Cathedral Heights, the worst possible location could result in making ~10.5% less than the average location in the city.
No amount of marketing or capital can compensate for a poorly chosen location. Opening a Day Care Center in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across 129 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Day Care Center is 76% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. Each business category has unique customer behavior patterns that vary significantly by address.
What Should I Consider When Opening a Day Care Center in or Around Washington DC?
When selecting a location for a Day Care Center in or around Washington DC, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score captures the interplay between market share and consumer spending: the two biggest drivers of success. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our forecasting engine processes data from over 24 metro areas covering 180+ million consumers. Competition density is not inherently negative: it often signals an established customer base. StreetSpring's predictions leverage proprietary datasets covering competition, spending, and mobility. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.
This can be summarized as:
Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business
Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.
Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a Day Care Center?
For this business type, the highest-ranked neighborhoods are Old Town North, Douglass, and Sudley, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Cathedral Heights, Columbia Forest, and Arboretum. Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
- National City Survivability: Day Care Center
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Day Care Center
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a Day Care Center?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Day Care Center in Washington DC is Old Town North with 81% average survivability, followed by Douglass and Sudley. 80 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.
Can a Day Care Center Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Washington DC?
Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Day Care Center Rankings in Washington DC Updated?
StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Washington DC.
Is a Day Care Center a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?
In Old Town North, StreetSpring forecasts a 78.0% to 83.0% average chance for a new Day Care Center to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Day Care Center in Washington DC
From a risk-assessment perspective, a Day Care Center tenant in Old Town North carries the lowest risk with average survivability of 78.0% to 83.0%. Douglass presents moderate risk (77.0% to 81.0%), and Sudley carries comparatively higher risk at 76.0% to 80.0%. You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.
StreetSpring provides address-specific survivability predictions for 500+ business types.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Washington DC for My Business Overall?
You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Washington DC to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC.
Related Resources
- Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC: See how Day Care Center compares to all other business types in Washington DC
- Best Cities to Open a Day Care Center in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Day Care Center
- Business Survivability in Old Town North, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Douglass, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Sudley, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Washington DC are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for Washington DC
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.