Housing data for Washington, DC
Washington, DC has an estimated 681,294 residents and 361,014 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
58.5% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,954 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−1.6%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 681,294 (exact)
- Housing units
- 361,014 (±148)
- Households that rent
- 58.5%
- Median gross rent
- $1,954
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −1.6%
Housing in Washington at a glance
- Median rent: $1,954 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $2,083 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 46.6% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 58.5% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $109,870 median household income
- Home values: $737,100 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $3,128 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $4,312 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 56.9% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 30.3% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 69.0% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 6.9% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 47.9% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 30.0 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 750 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: −1.6% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 36.3% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 4.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room
- Fair Market Rent: $3,430 Small Area FMR, 2 bedrooms (ZIP 20001)
Washington against District of Columbia, its state and the nation
| Washington | District of Columbia | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 681,294 (exact) | 681,294 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 361,014 (±148) | 361,014 (±148) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 58.5% (±0.8 points) | 58.5% (±0.8 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,954 (±$26) | $1,954 (±$26) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $109,870 (±$1,937) | $109,870 (±$1,937) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $737,100 (±$10,625) | $737,100 (±$10,625) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $4,312 (±$97) | $4,312 (±$97) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 69.0% (±1.2 points) | 69.0% (±1.2 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 30.0 minutes (±0.4) | 30.0 minutes (±0.4) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 91.2% (±0.5 points) | 91.2% (±0.5 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 34.9 years (±0.1) | 34.9 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
Washington covers 61.1 square miles of land, about 11,146 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Washington has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 692,683 (exact) | 681,294 (exact) | −1.6% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 315,176 (±108) | 361,014 (±148) | +14.5% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $1,541 (±$19) | $1,954 (±$26) | +26.8% | Up after inflation |
| Median home value | $601,500 (±$6,902) | $737,100 (±$10,625) | +22.5% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median household income | $86,420 (±$1,008) | $109,870 (±$1,937) | +27.1% | Up after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $2,569 (±$37) | $3,128 (±$53) | +21.8% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $3,378 (±$61) | $4,312 (±$97) | +27.6% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 58.4% (±0.6 points) | 58.5% (±0.8 points) | +0.1 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3% (±0.5 points) | 6.9% (±0.6 points) | +0.6 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Washington
In 2025, the Washington Police Department reported 750 violent and 3,098 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
ZIP codes in Washington
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20001 | 100% | 44,616 | $2,499 | $852,600 | $138,059 |
| 20002 | 100% | 72,397 | $2,212 | $826,400 | $120,337 |
| 20003 | 100% | 37,482 | $2,698 | $957,700 | $159,846 |
| 20004 | 100% | 1,831 | $2,997 | $689,600 | $184,792 |
| 20005 | 100% | 13,131 | $2,298 | $640,600 | $116,724 |
| 20006 | 100% | 1,362 | $1,951 | $255,200 | $35,011 |
| 20007 | 100% | 24,602 | $2,106 | $1,292,400 | $140,996 |
| 20008 | 100% | 29,434 | $2,206 | $965,100 | $125,212 |
| 20009 | 100% | 50,150 | $2,341 | $722,500 | $146,664 |
| 20010 | 100% | 31,808 | $1,793 | $886,600 | $114,126 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near Washington
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier | 3.8 mi | $1,457 | $529,600 | 76.5% |
| Colmar Manor | 4.2 mi | $2,222 | $370,900 | 22.2% |
| Brentwood | 4.2 mi | $1,600 | $412,500 | 59.4% |
| Cottage City | 4.3 mi | $1,565 | $343,100 | 26.6% |
| North Brentwood | 4.5 mi | $2,107 | $416,700 | 22.3% |
| Chillum | 4.8 mi | $1,735 | $393,600 | 60.3% |
| Arlington | 4.9 mi | $2,322 | $895,000 | 58.7% |
| Hyattsville | 5.1 mi | $1,835 | $481,500 | 51.6% |
HUD Fair Market Rent for Washington, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,111 | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 |
HUD also publishes a Small Area Fair Market Rent for each ZIP code in the area; the Fair Market Rent page for this place lists its ZIP codes.
HUD income limits for Washington, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $34,900 | $58,150 | $74,800 |
| 2 people | $39,900 | $66,450 | $85,450 |
| 3 people | $44,900 | $74,750 | $96,150 |
| 4 people | $49,850 | $83,050 | $106,800 |
| 5 people | $53,850 | $89,700 | $115,350 |
| 6 people | $57,850 | $96,350 | $123,900 |
| 7 people | $61,850 | $103,000 | $132,450 |
| 8 people | $65,850 | $109,650 | $141,000 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $166,100.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Washington
What is the average rent in Washington, DC?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Washington is $1,954 (±$26) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in Washington?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in Washington, DC is $1,944 (±$43) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in Washington rent-burdened?
46.6% of renting households in Washington pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in Washington?
Washington has an estimated 189,808 (±2,796) renting households, 58.5% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in Washington?
The median household income in Washington is $109,870 (±$1,937) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Washington, DC?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $737,100 (±$10,625) for owner-occupied homes in Washington (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Washington growing?
In Washington, the number of residents went from 692,683 in 2015–2019 to 681,294 in 2020–2024 (−1.6%), a measurable decrease.
What ZIP codes are in Washington?
The ZIP codes that cover Washington are 20001, 20002, 20003, 20004, 20005, 20006, 20007, 20008, 20009, 20010.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 20001?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 20001 is $2,499 (±$103) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Washington city, District of Columbia
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Washington Police Department (ORI DCMPD0000)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Washington city, District of Columbia (place:50000, in state:11).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .