District of Columbia Housing Market Prices
District of Columbia Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 140% above the US median Among the 3 most expensive states in US$597,276
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Median rent 39% above the US median Among the 3 most expensive states in US$1,953
Median Home Price Map: Counties in District of Columbia
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | District of Columbia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $597,276 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.4% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,953 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — |
The median home price in District of Columbia is about 140% higher than in US. Rent is about 39% higher than the US average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in District of Columbia, up about 7.4% and 4.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in District of Columbia rose about 47.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,327 to $1,953. Over the same span, rent in US rose about 52.1%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 5.4 yearly household incomes in District of Columbia.
Buying the median-priced home in District of Columbia costs roughly 25.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in District of Columbia. The price-to-rent ratio in US is about 14.7.
| Metric | District of Columbia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $597,276 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $110,571 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 5.4 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in District of Columbia rose about 62.5%, while median household income rose about 92.7% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | District of Columbia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 52.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 13.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2013 | 2011 |
District of Columbia has a homeownership rate of 37.3%, lower than the US average of 58.5%. Its housing vacancy rate is 10.1%, compared with 10.2% in US.
Housing Stock
| Metric | District of Columbia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 1.99 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1968 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 3.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in District of Columbia was built around 1968. On average, 2.0 people live in a home with about 3.9 rooms, staying for about 13.0 years on average.
District of Columbia Housing Compared With Nearby States
District of Columbia is the smallest of the 6 states compared here, 678,314 residents against a local median of 8,702,460. The measure that sets District of Columbia apart most is median home price: $597,276, 133% above the local median of $256,082.
Homeownership tells the same story from another angle: 41.5% against a local median of 67.6%, 39% below it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is homeownership, and at 39% below the local median it puts District of Columbia at the weaker end of the local range. The states themselves sit within $200,323 of each other on median home price, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and District of Columbia, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. District of Columbia has the highest median home price of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 678,314 | $597,276 #1/6 | $1,953 #1/6 | 41.5% #6/6 |
| Maryland | 6,204,886 | $267,101 | $1,704 | 67.6% |
| Delaware | 1,017,061 | $243,076 | $1,401 | 72.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,004,688 | $152,469 | $1,208 | 69.3% |
| Virginia | 8,702,460 | $256,082 | $1,579 | 67.3% |
| New Jersey | 9,334,304 | $352,792 | $1,719 | 63.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in District of Columbia.
What is the median home price in District of Columbia?
The median home price in District of Columbia is $597,276, higher than the US average of $248,835.
What is the average home price in District of Columbia?
The typical home price in District of Columbia, reported as the median sale price, is $597,276. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in District of Columbia?
The median gross rent in District of Columbia is $1,953 per month, higher than the US average of $1,407.
What was the median gross rent in District of Columbia in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in District of Columbia was $1,607 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in District of Columbia?
The price-to-rent ratio in District of Columbia is about 25.5, meaning it would take roughly 25.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in District of Columbia.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in District of Columbia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in District of Columbia, up about 7.4% and 4.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in District of Columbia?
37.3% of households in District of Columbia own their home, lower than the US average of 58.5%.
What is the vacancy rate in District of Columbia?
The housing vacancy rate in District of Columbia is 10.1%, lower than the US average of 10.2%.
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