You’ve seen the movies. The President and the Vice President are pacing the halls of the White House at 3:00 AM, debating world-ending crises over lukewarm coffee. It makes for great TV, but it’s actually a bit of a commute in real life.
Honestly, the answer is a hard "no."
While the President is tucked into the executive residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Vice President is usually about 2.5 miles up the road. Since 1977, every single person in that office has called a completely different—and much more secluded—mansion home.
Does the Vice President live at the White House right now?
The short answer? Nope. Vice President JD Vance and his family currently live at Number One Observatory Circle.
If you aren't a DC local, you might not even know this place exists. It’s nestled on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory in the northwestern part of the city. Think of it as the "other" white house, though it's technically a 19th-century Queen Anne-style home. It’s got 33 rooms and sits on 72 acres of incredibly secure, rolling hills.
But wait—don't they have an office at the White House?
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Yeah, they do. The Vice President keeps a West Wing office just steps from the Oval Office. They also have a much fancier, high-ceilinged ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door. So, they work at the White House every single day, but they don't sleep there.
Why the VP moved out (and where they were before)
For most of American history, the Vice President was basically on their own for housing. Can you imagine? You’re a heartbeat away from the presidency, but you have to find your own apartment or stay in a hotel.
Before 1974, VPs lived in their private homes.
- Calvin Coolidge lived in a hotel.
- Hubert Humphrey stayed in his own house.
- Spiro Agnew lived in a private residence that the government had to spend a fortune to secure.
That last part—the money—is why things changed. It was getting ridiculously expensive for the Secret Service to keep upgrading private houses with bulletproof glass and high-tech sensors every time a new person took office. Congress finally got tired of the bill and decided it was cheaper to just have one permanent, official residence.
They picked the "Admiral’s House" at the Naval Observatory. It was built in 1893 and used to belong to the Chief of Naval Operations. Interestingly, Nelson Rockefeller was the first VP the house was offered to, but he was already so wealthy he just used it for parties and lived in his own mansion. Walter Mondale was the first one to actually move in and stay.
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Life at Number One Observatory Circle
It’s a different vibe than the White House. While the White House is basically a museum that people live in, the Naval Observatory home is described by former residents as much more "livable."
There’s a swimming pool that Dan Quayle added. Joe Biden famously loved the pool when he was VP. Mike Pence added a beehive to the grounds. Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff did a lot of work on the kitchen and the floors before they officially moved in.
It’s also surprisingly quiet. Since it’s on the grounds of an active observatory, there are strict rules about light and noise. Scientists are literally right there, using the Master Clock and tracking the stars while the Second Family is having dinner.
A few things you might not know about the house:
- The Master Clock: The residence is on the same grounds as the atomic clock that sets the time for the entire world.
- Privacy: Unlike the White House, you can't really "tour" the Vice President's house. It’s tucked behind a lot of trees and a very serious security gate.
- The Garden: There is a "Family Heritage Garden" on the grounds where the names of vice-presidential family members and their pets are inscribed on pavers.
Wait, what about Blair House?
Sometimes people get confused because they see the Vice President at Blair House.
Blair House is the President’s official guest house. It’s right across the street from the White House. Occasionally, a Vice President-elect will stay there for a few days before the inauguration. Or, in Kamala Harris’s case, she lived there for several months in early 2021 while the Naval Observatory home was undergoing some pretty heavy renovations to its HVAC system and floors.
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But it’s a temporary stop, not a permanent home.
The wrap-up on VP housing
If you’re trying to find where the Vice President lives, look toward Massachusetts Avenue, not Pennsylvania Avenue.
While the White House remains the ultimate symbol of power, Number One Observatory Circle is where the actual life of the Second Family happens. It’s a mix of naval history, astronomical science, and modern security.
If you're interested in the logistics of DC power, the next time you see a motorcade heading toward Georgetown or the Embassies, there's a good chance it's the VP heading home for the night—away from the White House and back to the quiet hills of the Observatory.
Next Steps for You:
- If you're visiting DC, you can drive past the gates of the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue, though you won't see much of the house through the trees.
- Check out the White House Historical Association’s digital archives for rare photos of the interior of Number One Observatory Circle.
- Keep an eye on the news for "pool reports"—these often give small, humanizing details about what's actually happening on the grounds of the residence.