Washington, DC Local Data & Statistics

Total population: 681,294 Household income: $109,870 Rent: $1,954

Overview

Total population

681,294

Rent

$1,954

Year built

1958

Household income

$109,870

Per capita income

$77,348

Poverty rate

15.4%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Household size

2.0 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Ν/Α

Total population

681,294

Adults over 25

488,919

Total households

324,491

Household size

2.0 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$109,870

Per capita income

$77,348

Poverty rate

15.4%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Rent over 30% of income

44.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,954

Year built

1958

Households that rent

58.5%

Households that own

41.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

3.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

37.9%

Black

42.1%

Asian

4.4%

Two or more races

9.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

88.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

67%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

33%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

17.5%

High school graduate or GED

14.5%

Some college or associate degree

3.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

64.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Washington, DC with: United States

Washington, DC

Total population681,294

Rent$1,954

Year built1958

Household income$109,870

Per capita income$77,348

Poverty rate15.4%

Unemployment rate4.9%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWashington, DC	CountryUnited States
Total population	681,294	334,922,499
Rent	$1,954	$1,413
Year built	1958	1980
Household income	$109,870	$80,734
Per capita income	$77,348	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.9%	4%

View the complete comparison of Washington, DC and United States →

Summary for Washington, DC

Washington is located in District of Columbia.

Rent & Income

In Washington, the typical monthly rent is $1,954 and the typical household income is $109,870. Rent here is higher than the U.S., and household income is higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 15.4%, which is higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 58.5% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 44.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 64.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is higher than the national rate.

Washington, DC — Rent vs Household Income

Washington, DC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Washington, DC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,954 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Washington, DC

Annual Household Income: $109,870

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Washington, DC

Estimated Rate: 15.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Washington, DC

In Washington, DC, households that rent: 189,808 (58.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	189,808	58.5%
Owner-Occupied	134,683	41.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Washington, DC

In Washington, DC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 84,085 (44.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	84,085	44.3%
Other renter households	105,723	55.7%
Total renter households	189,808	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Washington, DC

Less than High School: 85,493 people (17.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 70,715 people (14.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 18,597 people (3.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 314,114 people (64.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 488,919

📊 Unemployment Rate in Washington, DC

Estimated Rate: 4.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

El Paso, TX678,147 Oklahoma City, OK688,693 Boston, MA663,972 Las Vegas, NV650,873 Denver, CO713,734 Portland, OR642,715 Detroit, MI636,644 Memphis, TN629,063 Seattle, WA741,440 Baltimore, MD577,193

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.