District of Columbia

Population

Growing. Up 3.4% since 2020.

693,645

people, the 49th-largest of the 50 states and D.C.

Census Population Estimates, 2025. Rank among the 50 states and D.C. computed by the Almanac. Sources: Census Population Estimates

The workday

7 in 10 jobs here go to people who live outside D.C.

67.2%

of 673,312 jobs located in the District of Columbia are filled by people who live outside D.C.

Census LEHD LODES, 2023. Sources: Census LEHD LODES

Unemployment, 2026

The low came in September: 5.3%.

5.3%

in September 2026, the latest month released. A year earlier it was 6.8%.

BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, monthly, through September 2026. Not seasonally adjusted, so compare with the same month a year earlier. Sources: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Rent

Median rent is up 101% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

$1,954

a month. The U.S. median is $1,413.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024 (latest), with earlier 5-year windows. Sources: Census ACS 5-year

Room to build

The median rent sits inside what local wages can carry.

$1,356–$2,034

is the monthly rent range local workforce wages support.

• $1,954 median

Supportable rent computed by the Almanac from 2023 source wage data. Median rent: Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Computed by the Almanac, Census ACS 5-year

Building

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

• 47,450 homes permitted in ten years, 2016–2025
• 95% of those were in multifamily buildings
• 76% of all homes were built before 2000

Census Building Permits Survey, 2016–2025; Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census Building Permits Survey, Census ACS 5-year

Home value

A median home costs 122% more than the U.S. median.

$737,100

median home value in the District of Columbia.

• $737,100 District of Columbia
• $332,700 U.S.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census ACS 5-year