Living in Washington, DC

Explore Washington and see how it fits the life you want to build.

681,294 Population District of Columbia County City Place Type District of Columbia State
Overall Match7.2 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Washington at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population681,294
Median Household Income$109,870
Median Home Value$737,100
Median Gross Rent$1,954
Median Age34.9
Average Household Size2.0
Unemployment6.3%
Work From Home33.0%
Homeownership41.5%
Housing Vacancy10.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Washington is a major population center where neighborhood choice can substantially change the day-to-day relocation experience. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Washington Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Washington →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Washington and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value2.4 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment3.3 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability2.8 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly4.7 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength4.8 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Washington

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$737,100
Median Gross Rent$1,954
Homeownership41.5%
Housing Vacancy10.1%
Housing Value4.8/10
Housing Stability5.6/10

Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. Renters make up a substantial share of the local housing market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Washington, DC

Median Household Income$109,870
Unemployment6.3%
Work From Home33.0%
Employment6.6/10
Remote Work Friendly9.4/10
Income Strength9.6/10

The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Washington and how households are structured

Population681,294
Median Age34.9
Average Household Size2.0

Washington is a large population center with enough scale for conditions to differ substantially across neighborhoods.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Washington

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Washington point to hot summers, winters with regular freezing conditions, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and occasional snowfall.

Average Summer High89.8°F
Average Winter Low27.8°F
Annual Rainfall45.6 in.
Annual Snowfall9.7 in.

Seasonal Life in Washington

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.

Fall

Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.

Winter

Freezing winter lows make heating, icy conditions and cold-weather routines worth evaluating even if annual snowfall is limited.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

Washington is located in District of Columbia County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. District of Columbia.

County Intelligence

Washington & District of Columbia

Data Pending Foreclosure Activity

Washington is located in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.

NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Washington.

Current NarrowTheList data for Washington shows a population of about 681,294. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship District of Columbia
How NarrowTheList uses it

County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Washington.

For someone considering a move to Washington, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.

Mount Rainier, MD 3.8 miles away Colmar Manor, MD 4.2 miles away Brentwood, MD 4.2 miles away Cottage City, MD 4.3 miles away North Brentwood, MD 4.5 miles away Hyattsville, MD 5.1 miles away Takoma Park, MD 5.3 miles away Fairmount Heights, MD 5.4 miles away Edmonston, MD 5.5 miles away Bladensburg, MD 5.5 miles away Chevy Chase Village, MD 5.6 miles away Cheverly, MD 5.7 miles away