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Adams Morgan and Capitol Hill are good recommendations, but Dupont, though a cute neighborhood, is a little more kitschy than "edgy" these days. Adams Morgan can also be a bit rowdy if you live near the 18th St strip... lots of young folk visit on the weekends. There are some rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods that might appeal to your tastes, though it's good to at least be aware that the neighborhoods are undergoing a lot of change and there is some level of tension with longtime residents.
Mt. Pleasant - mostly single family homes, not many apartment units. This area is gentrifying slower than others because it has no metro stop, but the Columbia Heights (yellow/green) stop is very convenient. The 42 and S2/S4 busses will also take you into Metro Center. It's a predominantly Hispanic/Latino community with some of the best El Salvodrean food you can get! (Also, women who sell fresh mango out of coolers on hot summer days.) If you're looking for a sense of community, Mt. P has it. Neighbors say hello to one another, etc. It's generally a mix of singles and young families, working class, non-profit and office jobs. (I live in Mt. P if it's not obvious already.)
Columbia Heights - CH has been gentrifying extremely rapidly over the past few years. Some might argue that the process is pretty much complete. There are many new condos and apartment units available, and new businesses (a mall) have sprung up. There is a good bit of tension between long-time residents and the incoming 'gentry.' That said, it's pretty diverse. The yellow and green lines stop here, and you could walk to Metro Center from Gallery Place or take the 14th St busses to work.
U St - U St is another area that's been changing a lot. There are a lot of apartment complexes where you could find a 1br. U St is also very convenient to Dupont and CH. Lots of great Ethiopian restaurants, bars, and jazz clubs. The yellow/green line run through here.
Penn Quarter might also be something to consider. I've heard of a lot of apartment buildings springing up around there, and it would place you in walking distance to work. However, it doesn't have as much going on in terms of culture and groceries and other residential needs are sort of hard to come by.
Personally, I find all of these neighborhoods to be safe, fun, and interesting. On your budget, you could definitely afford any of them. As with any developing areas, rents rise a lot each year, so I have no idea what the numbers look like right now. Just my 2 cents - good luck.
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