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City guide · District of Columbia

Moving to Washington, DC

Federal jobs, museums, traffic, expensive.

Pop. 706kCost index 117.4 · 100 = US avgMedian rent $2,185/moMedian home $631kWalk score 77

Washington (metro area) has an overall price level 117.4 (US avg = 100). Housing dominates the difference.

Overall price index
117.4
Housing index
155.0
Groceries index (modeled)
104.3
Utilities index (modeled)
102.6
Electricity rate
25 ¢/kWh
Transportation index (modeled)
103.5
Median home value (est.)
$631,000
Median monthly rent (est.)
$2,185/mo

Sources: BLS LAUS 2026-04 · Census ACS 2024 (live) state-level

District of Columbia unemployment is 6.2% with median household income $110k.

Unemployment rate
6.2%
Median household income
$109,707
Per-capita income
$76,604
Labor-force participation
71.3%
Right-to-work state
No
Nurse Licensure Compact
Non-member

Sources: FEMA NRI 2025 · Census ACS 2024 (live) city-level

Washington: median home value $631,000.

Home value
$631,000
Rent
$2,185/mo
Homeownership rate
41.0%
Natural-hazard risk (FEMA county avg)
98/100
Hurricane exposure
Low
Wildfire exposure
Low
Tornado risk
Low
Earthquake risk
Low

Sources: NAEP 2024 · NCES CCD (live) · internal estimates state-level

District of Columbia 4th-grade math proficiency: 32.8% at/above NAEP proficient.

4th-grade math proficiency
32.8%
Per-pupil spending
$24,454
Student–teacher ratio (est.)
15
Public 4-yr grad rate (est.)
68.0%
Notable universities
Public flagship + regional schools

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