Federal district · DC · #23 nationally
Washington, District of Columbia population is 693,645 as of July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate), ranking #23 nationally and #1 in District of Columbia. Cost of living runs 8.9% above the U.S. average (BEA RPP 2024); a family of four needs roughly $204,286/yr to break even (2025 modeled). This federal-district profile draws on 13 federal datasets covering population, housing, income, employment, climate, and risk.
2025 population
693,645
+2,335 in the last year
Top 1% of 19,483 U.S. cities
Census Vintage 2025
Cost of living
RPP 108.9
+8.9% vs US
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro · BEA 2024
Family-of-4 budget
$204,286/yr
+155% vs US
Modeled 2025 · federal sources
Median HH income
$109,870
+41% vs US
ACS 2020–2024 5-yr
Median home value
$737,100
+143% vs US
ACS 2020–2024 5-yr
2-BR fair-market rent
$2,246/mo
HUD FY2026 · 40th pct
Avg July high
89°F
NOAA 1991–2020
Gigabit broadband
72%
ISP-reported, FCC BDC
Explore Washington, DC demographics, including age, race and ethnicity, households, origins, language, and education.
693,645 people live in Washington as of July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025), the #23 largest U.S. city.
Washington covers 61.1 square miles of land and 7.2 square miles of water. Its population density is about 11,348 residents per square mile of land. Compare U.S. cities by land area →
2025 population
Known limit: Annual estimate, not a decennial count; each new PEP vintage can revise the prior series.
Population grew 0.6% from the April 2020 base to mid-2025.
Vintage 2025 · annual estimates
2020 base: 689,544 → 2025: 693,645 (+0.6%)
| Year | Population | Reference date |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 base | 689,544 | April 1, 2020 |
| 2020 | 670,958 | July 1, 2020 |
| 2021 | 669,637 | July 1, 2021 |
| 2022 | 674,501 | July 1, 2022 |
| 2023 | 682,559 | July 1, 2023 |
| 2024 | 691,310 | July 1, 2024 |
| 2025 | 693,645 | July 1, 2025 |
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2019 release — a separate, earlier methodology. They’re shown here as historical context only; the 2010 and 2019 values aren’t directly comparable to the 2020–2025 series above.
Population grew 16.6% from the July 2010 estimate to 2019 (V2019 — see seam note below).
2010 base: 601,767 → 2019: 705,749 (+16.6%)
| Year | Population | Reference date |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 base | 601,767 | April 1, 2010 |
| 2010 | 605,226 | July 1, 2010 |
| 2011 | 619,800 | July 1, 2011 |
| 2012 | 634,924 | July 1, 2012 |
| 2013 | 650,581 | July 1, 2013 |
| 2014 | 662,328 | July 1, 2014 |
| 2015 | 675,400 | July 1, 2015 |
| 2016 | 685,815 | July 1, 2016 |
| 2017 | 694,906 | July 1, 2017 |
| 2018 | 701,547 | July 1, 2018 |
| 2019 | 705,749 | July 1, 2019 |
Washington is the #23 largest of 19,483 U.S. cities and #1 in District of Columbia.
| Measure | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 base | 689,544 | April 1, 2020 census base |
| 5-yr change | +4,101 | 2020 base → 2025; within V2025 |
| 5-yr change % | +0.6% | within V2025 only |
| 1-yr change | +2,335 | 2024 → 2025 estimate |
| 1-yr change % | +0.3% | within V2025 only |
| Density | 11,348 | people per sq mi, land only |
| Land area | 61.1 | sq mi (2025 Gazetteer) |
| U.S. rank by population | #23 | of 19,483 cities |
| State rank by population | #1 | of 1 in District of Columbia |
Place type · nonfunctioning_legal_place
Washington, DC is a special case in the dataset. The District has FUNCSTAT='N' (nonfunctioning legal place) because it has no incorporated municipal government — it is the federal capital district. The Census Bureau publishes annual PEP estimates for it, and it is included here as a single record. DC has no in-state neighbors in this dataset. See the methodology.
Median household income is 41% above the U.S. median ($109,870 vs $77,719); 15.4% live in poverty — 2.9 points above the 12.5% U.S. rate.
Washington: $109,870 — 41% above the US median of $77,719.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with ACS income data
Income and poverty estimates for Washington from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates (window 2020–2024). Every figure is shown with its 90% margin of error (MOE). Cells where the ± margin exceeds half the estimate are flagged "low precision." See methodology §12.
| Measure | Estimate | ± margin / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | 109,870+41.4% vs US | ±1,937 |
| Per capita income | 77,348+78.7% vs US | ±1,050 |
| Population in poverty | 15.4% | share of population for whom poverty status is determined |
Source: ACS 5-Year 2020–2024 · ACS 5-Year Estimates 2020-2024 (released 2026-01-29) · methodology →
Median home value is 143% above the U.S. median ($737,100 vs $303,400); median rent is 45% above ($1,954 vs $1,348); price-to-income ratio is 6.7×, making it 1.7× as cost-burdened as the typical U.S. city (3.9×).
Washington: $737,100 — 143% above the US median of $303,400.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with ACS home-value data
Washington: $2,246/mo — 109% above the US median of $1,077/mo.
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of cities with a HUD Fair Market Rent
Owner-occupied home values, renter costs, and tenure split from the ACS 5-Year (2020–2024). All figures inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars by Census.
| Measure | Estimate | ± margin / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median value, owner-occupied units | 737,100+142.9% vs US | ±10,625 |
| Median gross rent | 1,954+45.0% vs US | ±26 |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-BR (FY2026) | $2,246-13.0% vs US | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area· 40th-percentile gross rent · HUD methodology |
| Owner-occupied share | 41.5% | of occupied housing units |
| Price-to-income ratio | 6.7x+71.9% vs US | median home value ÷ median household income · U.S. median: 3.9x |
| Rent-burdened (≥30% of income) | 44.3%-3.7% vs US | share of renter households · U.S. median: 46% |
| Severely rent-burdened (≥50%) | 22.5%+2.1% vs US | share of renter households · U.S. median: 22% |
Source: ACS 5-Year 2020–2024 · methodology →
Spans 1 county; 16.4% poverty rate; 5.3% unemployment.
Poverty (Census SAIPE 2024, model-based), unemployment (BLS LAUS 2024 annual averages), and remote-work share (ACS 2020–2024) for Washington. Numbers are labeled at their native grain — place-grain when BLS publishes it, otherwise per-county. We do not compute population-weighted county averages. See methodology §13.
| Measure | Value | Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (annual avg) | 5.3% | Washington (BLS sub-state LAUS) |
| Civilian labor force | 413,353 | 2024 annual avg |
| Worked from home | 33.0%+135.7% vs US | share of workers 16+ commuting from home · U.S. median: 14% · ACS |
County context — Washington sits in District of Columbia:
| County | Poverty rate | Median HH income | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 16.4% | $109,289 | 5.3% |
Top industries by private employment — NAICS supersectors rolled up from Washington's linked county in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW, 2024 annual averages). See methodology §11.
| # | Industry (NAICS supersector) | Private employment | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Professional and technical services (54) | 121,785 | $3,546 / wk |
| #2 | Health care and social assistance (62) | 71,700 | $1,646 / wk |
| #3 | Other services (81) | 69,072 | $2,284 / wk |
| #4 | Accommodation and food services (72) | 67,068 | $904 / wk |
| #5 | Administrative and waste services (56) | 47,326 | $1,377 / wk |
What workers earn in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro — top occupations by employment plus six curated benchmarks (registered nurse, software developer, elementary teacher, general manager, retail salesperson, truck driver). Wages are metro-area medians from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). See methodology §25.
General and Operations Managers is the largest tracked occupation in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro (112,530 jobs, median $156,460/yr).
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 76,600 | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| Management Analysts | 62,360 | $126,830 | $60.97 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 60,560 | $34,600 | $16.64 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 59,090 | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cashiers | 50,600 | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 50,450 | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Lawyers | 46,840 | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| General and Operations Managers · benchmark | 112,530 | $156,460 | $75.22 |
| Software Developers · benchmark | 69,060 | $154,930 | $74.49 |
| Retail Salespersons · benchmark | 66,920 | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Registered Nurses · benchmark | 46,830 | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education · benchmark | 30,940 | $79,470 | — |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · benchmark | 20,430 | $59,820 | $28.76 |
Source: SAIPE 2024 · BLS LAUS 2024 annual averages · BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS OEWS May 2025 · methodology →
Cost of living summary
All items run 8.9% above the U.S. average (RPP 108.9); rents run 51.1% above (RPP 151.1) — the metro's housing premium is the main driver.
Washington's cost of living runs 8.9% above the U.S. average (RPP 108.9 vs 100).
Scale: 10th–90th percentile of metro/non-metro areas with a BEA price parity
| BEA Regional Price Parity (all items) | RPP 108.9 | +8.9% vs U.S. average · BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-BR | $2,246/mo | FY2026 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area |
| State income tax (top marginal rate) | 10.75% | 7 brackets · TY2025 |
| Family-of-four monthly budget total | $17,024/mo | 3BR rent + food + childcare + taxes + transport · federal sources |
| Single-adult monthly budget total | $7,258/mo | 1BR rent + food + taxes + transport · federal sources |
| Local income tax | — | not applicable in District of Columbia · no modeled local income tax |
Household budget figures are arithmetic floors using current federal sources at the grains documented in methodology. Not a recommended salary, not a poverty threshold, not a composite score.
Source: BEA RPP 2024 · HUD FMR · federal pipelines · methodology →
14.3% foreign-born (U.S. median 14%); Spanish is the most-spoken language at home other than English (9.4% of residents 5+).
A quick read on Washington's residents — nativity and languages spoken at home shown above, from the ACS 5-Year 2020–2024. The full demographic breakdown (age, race and ethnicity, household types, and educational attainment, each with its margin of error) lives on the demographics page.
Source: ACS 5-Year 2020–2024 · methodology →
Hottest month: July (89°F avg high). Coldest: January (27°F avg low). Annual precipitation: 44.3 in.
30-year climate normals (1991-2020) for Washington from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. See methodology §15 for the gridded vs. station source path.
Average monthly highs & lows · 30-year normal (NOAA 1991–2020). Every number on this chart is an average.
Avg July high
89°F31°C
Hottest typical month, daytime
Avg January low
27°F-3°C
Coldest typical month, overnight
Annual precipitation
44.3 in1124 mm
Sum of monthly normals
Hottest / coldest month
Jul / Jan
89°F high / 27°F low31°C high / -3°C low
Months ≥90°F avg high
0
Out of 12, NOAA 1991–2020
| Month | Avg high (°F)Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°F)Avg low (°C) | Precip (in)Precip (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43.96.6 | 26.5-3.1 | 2.9074 |
| Feb | 47.38.5 | 28.4-2.0 | 2.6267 |
| Mar | 55.513.1 | 35.11.7 | 3.7696 |
| Apr | 67.219.6 | 45.07.2 | 3.3786 |
| May | 75.824.3 | 54.612.6 | 4.16106 |
| Jun | 84.329.1 | 64.017.8 | 4.26108 |
| Jul | 88.631.4 | 69.020.6 | 4.56116 |
| Aug | 86.630.3 | 67.119.5 | 3.8097 |
| Sep | 79.826.6 | 60.215.7 | 4.33110 |
| Oct | 68.620.3 | 47.88.8 | 3.8197 |
| Nov | 57.214.0 | 37.73.2 | 3.0577 |
| Dec | 48.08.9 | 30.8-0.7 | 3.6693 |
Source: nClimGrid 1991-2020 v1.0, nearest cell at 38.8959, -77.0208 · methodology →
Composite risk score: 97.6/100 — Relatively High nationally; top hazard: Heat Wave (99.2).
Natural-hazard exposure for Washington from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index (FEMA NRI December 2025 v1.20.0). NRI is an expected-annual-loss composite calibrated on 1996–2019 historical losses, published at the U.S. county grain. See methodology §17.
| County | NRI composite | Rating | Top hazards |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 97.6 | Relatively High | Heat Wave 99.2 Relatively HighEarthquake 98.3 Relatively HighStrong Wind 98.2 Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · FEMA NRI December 2025 v1.20.0 · methodology →
21 non-satellite ISPs serve the area; 72% of locations have gigabit-capable service per ISP filings.
Fixed broadband availability for Washington from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Collection (BDC), as of June 30, 2025. Every speed and provider count below is an ISP-reported advertised maximum — not measured throughput. Actual delivered speeds typically run 60–80% of advertised. See methodology §16.
| Measure | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Providers serving this city | 21 + satellite | distinct ISPs, excluding satellite-only |
| Fiber providers | 18 | offer fiber-to-the-premises somewhere in the BDC |
| Units with ≥100/20 Mbps fixed | 100.0% | share of broadband-serviceable units, ISP-reported max |
| Locations with ≥100 Mbps upload | 72.2% | derived: max(fiber ≥100/20, gigabit). Fiber is symmetric; gigabit is ≥100 up by definition |
| Units with ≥1 Gbps fixed | 72.2% | share of broadband-serviceable units, ISP-reported max |
| Total broadband-serviceable units | 385,723 | residential locations in the FCC Fabric (not households) |
Source: FCC BDC · as of June 30, 2025 · methodology →
In 2024, law enforcement reported 6,502 violent and 25,197 property offenses in the Washington jurisdiction — a violent-crime rate of 925.9 per 100,000, above the U.S. estimate of 359.1.
Reported offenses known to law enforcement from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program (CIUS Table 8), 2024. Figures describe the FBI agency jurisdiction: Washington — an FBI jurisdiction population of 702,250, versus the Census place population of 693,645. The rate per 100,000 is the FBI's own (count ÷ that jurisdiction population), never divided by the Census place figure. These are reported crimes under voluntary participation — not measured or victimization crime — and the FBI cautions against using them to rank or compare places. See methodology §31.
| Offenses known, 2024 | Count | Rate /100k | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 6,502 | 925.9 | 359.1 |
| Property crime | 25,197 | 3,588.0 | 1,760.1 |
| Offense, 2024 | Count |
|---|---|
| Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter | 179 |
| Rape | 239 |
| Robbery | 3,080 |
| Aggravated assault | 3,004 |
| Burglary | 1,671 |
| Larceny-theft | 18,220 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 5,306 |
| Arson (12-month reporters only) | 0 |
| Year | Violent /100k | Property /100k | Jurisdiction pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 744.7 | 3,484.4 | 671,803 |
| 2023 | 1,047.5 | 4,157.6 | 678,972 |
| 2024 | 925.9 | 3,588.0 | 702,250 |
Only years the agency reported a complete 12 months appear; the FBI does not estimate missing agency-years, so a gap is a non-reporting year, not zero crime.
U.S. rate is the FBI national estimate (imputes non-reporting agencies); the city figures are reported-only. Source: FBI UCR CIUS Table 8 (2022–2024) · FBI agency jurisdiction: Washington · methodology → · FBI Crime Data Explorer →
Washington is ranked #23 of 19,483 U.S. cities by 2025 population.
Nearby in the rankings
Just above in the profiled set: Oklahoma City, OK · #22 · 719,849 residents.
Just below in the profiled set: El Paso, TX · #24 · 683,012 residents.
Sources: elevation from USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) · nearest airport from OurAirports CSV (FAA-aligned, type=large/medium, scheduled_service=yes) · best months derived from NOAA 1991-2020 normals · methodology →
Washington has 693,645 residents as of July 1, 2025, making it the #23 largest city in the United States and #1 in District of Columbia. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025.
Washington has grown 0.6% since the April 2020 census baseline, adding 4,101 residents, including a 0.3% increase from 2024 to 2025. Source: Census PEP Vintage 2025.
689,544 at the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Source: Census PEP Vintage 2025.
Washington is in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
Washington covers 61.1 square miles of land, with a population density of about 11,348 residents per square mile. Source: Census Gazetteer 2025.
$109,870, about 41% above the U.S. median. Source: ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024.
Sources · provenance
The GEOID for Washington is 1150000. These are the official datasets used by this profile's main data modules; click "methodology" for inclusion rules and the V2019 ↔ V2025 seam, or "source" for the raw publisher page. The headline population value above includes a source-detail disclosure with publisher, dataset, vintage, native geography, transformation, and caveat.
Full per-dataset detail: /sources/.
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