Population 681,294 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the District of Columbia
Household size in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The District of Columbia is a place of small households, averaging 2.09 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.19 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other state has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the District of Columbia is 36.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Only one other state is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the District of Columbia (12.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The District of Columbia has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five states.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the District of Columbia
Renters in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 58.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in the District of Columbia: 58.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About a quarter of owners (25.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.0 points, mirroring the country. The District of Columbia has the highest share of renters of any state.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in the District of Columbia as nationally: 10.4%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 |
The District of Columbia is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in southern the District of Columbia, while northwestern the District of Columbia has the oldest housing. Few states have older homes: only two of 51.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,166 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,368 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,677 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,078 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the District of Columbia costs $2,078 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $912 a month from 2006–10, a 78% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Few states have higher rents: only two of 51.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the District of Columbia
Bachelor's degrees in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
The District of Columbia is highly educated: nearly two-thirds of adults 25 and older (63.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 16.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other state has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the District of Columbia is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the District of Columbia
| Period | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in the District of Columbia: 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. The District of Columbia has the highest unemployment rate of any state. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
District of Columbia compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| Virginia | 2.62 | 40.3 | 10.7% | 32.7% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,743 | 42.5% | 91.6% | 4.3% |
| New Jersey | 2.76 | 40.9 | 11.3% | 36.2% | 6.6% | 1969 | $1,896 | 43.4% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| West Virginia | 2.43 | 43.2 | 10.4% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1976 | $905 | 25.0% | 89.4% | 5.5% |
| New York | 2.65 | 40.8 | 11.6% | 45.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,794 | 39.8% | 87.3% | 6.6% |
| North Carolina | 2.52 | 40.3 | 11.4% | 33.4% | 11.4% | 1990 | $1,317 | 36.2% | 90.2% | 4.8% |
| Connecticut | 2.55 | 42.1 | 11.4% | 33.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 5.6% |
| Ohio | 2.46 | 40.8 | 11.7% | 32.8% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,142 | 31.9% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Hawaii · Puerto Rico · Vermont · Wisconsin · Washington · Texas · South Dakota · South Carolina · Rhode Island
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the District of Columbia. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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