Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV Local Data & Statistics

State: DC-VA-MD-WV

Total population: 6,318,377 Household income: $126,684 Rent: $2,027

Overview

Total population

6,318,377

Rent

$2,027

Year built

1983

Household income

$126,684

Per capita income

$63,554

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.7%

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

DC-VA-MD-WV

Total population

6,318,377

Adults over 25

4,348,200

Total households

2,373,022

Household size

2.6 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

$126,684

Per capita income

$63,554

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Rent over 30% of income

45.7%

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

Housing

Rent

$2,027

Year built

1983

Households that rent

36.3%

Households that own

63.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

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

Race

White

43.4%

Black

24.6%

Asian

10.9%

Two or more races

11.7%

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

18%

Not Hispanic or Latino

82%

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

74.6%

Commute time to work

32 mins

Work from home

25.4%

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

21.4%

High school graduate or GED

17.2%

Some college or associate degree

Bachelor’s degree or higher

54.4%

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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV with: Virginia Maryland West Virginia

Washington Metro Area

Total population6,318,377

Rent$2,027

Year built1983

Household income$126,684

Per capita income$63,554

Poverty rate8.1%

Unemployment rate3.0%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

Maryland State

Total population6,206,011

Rent$1,705

Year built1979

Household income$103,678

Per capita income$52,979

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate3%

West Virginia State

Total population1,778,373

Rent$872

Year built1976

Household income$59,608

Per capita income$34,203

Poverty rate16.7%

Unemployment rate4.1%

Metric	Metro AreaWashington Metro Area	State Virginia	State Maryland	State West Virginia
Total population	6,318,377	8,705,170	6,206,011	1,778,373
Rent	$2,027	$1,579	$1,705	$872
Year built	1983	1984	1979	1976
Household income	$126,684	$93,170	$103,678	$59,608
Per capita income	$63,554	$50,666	$52,979	$34,203
Poverty rate	8.1%	9.9%	9.4%	16.7%
Unemployment rate	3.0%	2.8%	3%	4.1%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

Washington metro area spans parts of DC, VA, MD and WV.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $2,027, while the typical household income is $126,684. Rent in this metro area is higher than Virginia, and household income is higher than Virginia.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 36.3% of households. About 45.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 8.1%, which is lower than the Virginia rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 3.0%, which is higher than the Virginia rate.

Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV — Rent vs Household Income

Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,027 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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

Annual Household Income: $126,684

💡 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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

Estimated Rate: 8.1%

💡 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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

In Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV, households that rent: 862,280 (36.3%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	862,280	36.3%
Owner-Occupied	1,510,742	63.7%

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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

In Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 394,049 (45.7%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	394,049	45.7%
Other renter households	468,231	54.3%
Total renter households	862,280	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 Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

Less than High School: 932,032 people (21.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 747,481 people (17.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 304,590 people (7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 2,364,097 people (54.4%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 4,348,200

📊 Unemployment Rate in Washington Metro Area, DC-VA-MD-WV

Estimated Rate: 3.0%

💡 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%.

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.