Washington, District of Columbia Housing Market Prices
Washington 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 About the same as the District of Columbia median$597,269
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Median rent About the same as the District of Columbia median$1,953
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $597,269 | $597,276 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,953 | $1,953 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Washington is about the same as in District of Columbia. Rent follows a similar pattern, running close to the District of Columbia 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 Washington, up about 7.4% and 4.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Washington rose about 47.2% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,327 to $1,953. Over the same span, rent in District of Columbia rose about 47.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 5.4 yearly household incomes in Washington.
Buying the median-priced home in Washington 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 Washington. The price-to-rent ratio in District of Columbia is about 25.5.
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $597,269 | $597,276 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $110,570 | $110,571 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 5.4 | 5.4 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Washington 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 | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 37.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 52.6% | 52.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 11.0 | 13.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2015 | 2013 | 2011 |
Washington has a homeownership rate of 37.3%, about the same as the District of Columbia average of 37.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 10.1%, compared with 10.1% in District of Columbia.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 1.99 people | 1.99 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1962 | 1968 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 3.9 | 3.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Washington was built around 1962. On average, 2.0 people live in a home with about 3.9 rooms, staying for about 11.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Washington, District of Columbia.
What is the median home price in Washington, District of Columbia?
The median home price in Washington, District of Columbia is $597,269, about the same as the District of Columbia average.
What is the average home price in Washington, District of Columbia?
The typical home price in Washington, District of Columbia, reported as the median sale price, is $597,269. 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 Washington, District of Columbia?
The median gross rent in Washington, District of Columbia is $1,953 per month, about the same as the District of Columbia average.
What was the median gross rent in Washington in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Washington, District of Columbia was $1,607 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Washington, District of Columbia?
The price-to-rent ratio in Washington, 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 Washington.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Washington, District of Columbia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Washington, up about 7.4% and 4.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Washington, District of Columbia?
37.3% of households in Washington, District of Columbia own their home, about the same as the District of Columbia average.
What is the vacancy rate in Washington, District of Columbia?
The housing vacancy rate in Washington, District of Columbia is 10.1%, about the same as the District of Columbia average.
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