Not to be outdone, Washington, D.C. earns a place in this roundup because the government, non-profit and legal sectors provide just as much locomotive power as the tech, financial and health sectors do in other cities. The young, well-educated and ambitious flock to well-known and affluent markets in Georgetown, DuPont Circle, Logan Circle and West End. “This is a very transient population. There are people who come and stay for a short time before continuing their education or transferring jobs, which make this an ideal market for multifamily owners,” says Christine Espenshade, a managing director at JLL. But the young and ambitious are not just going to a handful of select markets. The overflow of demand is also benefiting newer sub-markets, including Eckington and Takoma Park. The results are strong absorption and occupancy rates of 95.0 percent or better.