Washington, District of Columbia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Washington.
Key figures
Each metric shows how Washington compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 672,079City limits · not metro/MSA
- Median household income
- $106,287Incorporated place (ACS)35% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
- Housing cost index
- 190ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)90% above U.S. avgU.S. 100
- Median home value
- $724,600City limits (ACS)139% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,900City limits (ACS)41% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
- Unemployment
- 6.1%County LAUS · not city-only1.9 pts above U.S. avgU.S. 4.2 pts
- Avg commute
- 34 min36% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 7771% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 977.1annualized per 100k · citywide62% above U.S. avgU.S. 602.7
- Property crime rate
- 4245.8annualized per 100k · citywide38% above U.S. avgU.S. 3084.9
- Summer high
- 88°FNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 32°F2.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 41.8 in27% above U.S. avgU.S. 32.9 in
- Sunny days
- 2477% below U.S. avgU.S. 266
Compare Washington with another city
Federal employment gravity and dense walkable neighborhoods define the District. Expect summer highs near 88°F and winter lows around 32°F. Average one-way commute time is about 34 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 77/100. Unemployment near 6.1% is elevated versus many peer cities, so industry mix matters more in a move decision. FBI CDE violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~977.1 per 100k annualized), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
About 672,079 people live in Washington, DC. With median income around $106,287 and a cost index of 190, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Entry home prices around $724,600 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
If you only tour one corridor, make it Georgetown; if you have a weekend, contrast it with Dupont Circle and the quieter edges near Capitol Hill. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Washington with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Georgetown
- Dupont Circle
- Capitol Hill
- Adams Morgan
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Washington city, 1600000US1150000)
- BLS: BLS LAUS LAUCN110010000000003 (District of Columbia, June 2026)
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013743 WASHINGTON REAGAN AP)
Last updated 2026-07-28
Canonical profile · All District of Columbia cities · Full city index