Federal district
District of Columbia
District of Columbia. District of Columbia had 693,645 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 1 place (1 incorporated) in one county-equivalent; 61 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
693,645
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 689,545
Median household income
$109,870
±$1,937 (90% margin)
Median home value
$737,100
±$10,625 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$1,954
±$26 (90% margin)
How many people live in District of Columbia?
The 2020 Census counted 689,545 residents in District of Columbia. The Census Bureau estimates 693,645 for July 1, 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 100.0% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
| Measure | District of Columbia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 681,294 | −11,389 |
| Households | 324,491 ±1,816 | +40,105 |
| Average household size | 1.99 ±0.01 | −0.31 |
| Housing units | 361,014 ±148 | +45,838 |
District of Columbia's population since 2000
From 572,059 in 2000 to 693,645 in 2025: up 21.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in District of Columbia?
Washington is District of Columbia's largest place with 693,645 residents in 2025.
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 693,645 | $109,870 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia is a single county-equivalent with 693,645 residents in 2025.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in District of Columbia?
The median resident of District of Columbia is 34.9 years old; 18.7% are under 18 and 12.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 41.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 36.5%. 14.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | District of Columbia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 ±0.1 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 18.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.9% | +0.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 36.5% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 41.6% ±0.3 pts | −3.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±0.1 pts | +0.4 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.3% ±0.4 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.1% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| With a disability | 11.5% ±0.4 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.6% ±0.3 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.7% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 64.2% ±0.6 pts | +5.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 38.0% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.2% ±0.4 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in District of Columbia earn?
Half of District of Columbia's 324,491 households earn less than $109,870 a year (±$1,937). In 2015-2019 the median was $106,357 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $3,513 after inflation. 15.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | District of Columbia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,870 ±$1,937 | +$3,513 |
| Mean household income | $162,297 ±$2,303 | – |
| Per capita income | $77,348 ±$1,050 | +$8,248 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.4% ±0.7 pts | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.8% ±1.8 pts | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.3% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.2% ±0.5 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in District of Columbia?
Owners occupy 41.5% of District of Columbia's occupied homes and renters 58.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $737,100 by its owner (±$10,625). The median renter pays $1,954 a month including utilities, and 36.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | District of Columbia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $737,100 ±$10,625 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,954 ±$26 | +$58 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.6% ±1.0 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,128 ±$53 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 41.5% ±0.8 pts | no clear change |
| Housing units | 361,014 ±148 | +45,838 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 11.0% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 31.5% ±0.7 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is District of Columbia building?
Builders took permits for 1,591 new housing units in District of Columbia in 2025 (181 single-family), 2.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in District of Columbia get to work?
27.4% of District of Columbia's workers drive alone and 33.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | District of Columbia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.6% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% ±0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 27.4% ±0.8 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 4.0% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 20.3% ±0.7 pts | – |
| Walked | 9.5% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 33.0% ±0.8 pts | +26.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.0 min ±0.4 | −0.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections