District of Columbia, District of Columbia Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
District of Columbia, DC Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
-
A
Health Above average
-
A
Income Above average
-
A+
Education Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 678,314 | 678,314 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 9924.5 | 9924.5 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 33.8 | 33.8 | 37.3 |
| Households | 322,655 | 322,655 | 130,235,071 |
Population in District of Columbia grew by 15.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 678,314 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in District of Columbia is Millennials, aged 29–44, at 29.4% of residents. That is about the same share as District of Columbia.
- Gen Z 13–28 157,102 23.2% on par
- Millennials 29–44 199,580 29.4% on par
- Gen X 45–60 113,702 16.8% on par
- Boomers 61–79 90,769 13.4% on par
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below District of Columbia, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 52.3% of the people living in District of Columbia and men 47.7%.
- Women 52.3% District of Columbia 52.3%
- Men 47.7% District of Columbia 47.7%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in District of Columbia
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
District of Columbia has a the economy index of A, which means it is very prosperous.
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,571 | $110,571 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.30% | 5.30% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
The median household income in District of Columbia is about the same as in District of Columbia.
Housing
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $597,276 | $597,276 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,953 | $1,953 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 41.5% | 41.5% | 65.2% |
The median home price in District of Columbia is about 25.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,953 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in District of Columbia spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 252 hours, about 10.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.3 | 30.3 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 60.6 | 60.6 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 252 | 252 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,824 | $7,824 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 32.9% | 32.9% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 23,558 | 23,558 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,264 | 4,264 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
District of Columbia:
District of Columbia (30.3 min).
Slowest:
District of Columbia (30.3 min).
The average commute time in District of Columbia is about the same as in District of Columbia.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
District of Columbia has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.8% | 58.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 1.99 | 1.99 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
District of Columbia:
District of Columbia (0.5).
Lowest:
District of Columbia (0.5).
Health
District of Columbia has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | District of Columbia | District of Columbia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.4 | 76.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.3% | 12.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.1% | 14.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
District of Columbia:
District of Columbia (0.8).
Lowest:
District of Columbia (0.8).
District of Columbia, DC Compared With Nearby Counties
District of Columbia, DC is the 3rd largest of the 4 counties compared here, 678,314 residents against a local median of 959,665. Where District of Columbia, DC breaks from the counties next to it is median home price, sitting 61% above the local median of $370,061 at $597,276.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $110,571 against a local median of $141,911, 22% below it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is median household income, and at 22% below the local median it puts District of Columbia, DC at the weaker end of the local range. The counties themselves spread $310,498 on median home price, so District of Columbia, DC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. District of Columbia, DC has the 2nd highest median home price of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia, DC | 678,314 | $110,571 #3/4 | $597,276 #2/4 | 30.3 min #3/4 |
| Arlington County, VA | 236,150 | $141,911 | $370,061 | 25.4 min |
| Prince George's County, MD | 959,665 | $102,039 | $344,074 | 32.5 min |
| Fairfax County, VA | 1,147,383 | $153,857 | $654,572 | 27.5 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
How many people live in District of Columbia, District of Columbia?
About 678,314 people live in District of Columbia, District of Columbia, in 322,655 households of 2.0 people on average. The median age is 33.8, so residents are younger than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 4 years.
Is District of Columbia, District of Columbia urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, District of Columbia, District of Columbia has 9,925 people per square mile, a density typical of a city. That is about 115 times the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in District of Columbia, District of Columbia?
The median home costs 5.4 times the median household income ($597,276 against $110,571), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,953 a month takes about 21% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How educated are people in District of Columbia, District of Columbia?
58.8% of adults in District of Columbia, District of Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 6 in 10), well above the U.S. share of 31.6%.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →