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Economy, jobs and prices in Washington, District of Columbia: official figures

The median household income in Washington was $109,870 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 164th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the District of Columbia median $109,870.

Median household income
$109,870
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.3%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
30.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,954
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$737,100
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
41.5%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.2%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Washington?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Washington averaged $77,348 a year in 2020-2024, 32nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; District of Columbia: $77,348).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Washington?

Washington's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.517 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 57th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Washington, District of Columbia?

6.3% of the civilian labor force in Washington was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (25,416 people), 219th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and District of Columbia's 6.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Washington are working?

71.6% of Washington's 564,439 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 96th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Washington have jobs?

374,990 residents of Washington held civilian jobs, 66.4% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 3,796 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Washington?

The largest industry group for working residents of Washington was professional, scientific, management and administrative services (26.0% of employed residents), followed by public administration (18.2%) and education, health care and social assistance (17.5%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Washington work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 1.4% of working residents of Washington, the lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 26.0% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Washington, District of Columbia?

Commuters in Washington took 30.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 153rd longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 8.0% travelled an hour or more and 12.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Washington get to work?

33.0% of workers living in Washington worked from home in 2020-2024, 21st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 27.4% drove to work alone, 4.0% carpooled, 20.3% used public transport and 9.5% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Washington, District of Columbia?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Washington was $1,954 a month in 2020-2024, 185th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; District of Columbia: $1,954).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Washington?

Owner-occupied homes in Washington had a median value of $737,100 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 110th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; District of Columbia: $737,100).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Washington?

The median home value in Washington was 6.7 times the median household income, 150th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Washington, District of Columbia own their home?

41.5% of the 324,491 occupied homes in Washington were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 189,808 were rented, 71st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; District of Columbia: 41.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Washington have broadband?

91.2% of households in Washington had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 278th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; District of Columbia: 91.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Washington have no internet?

5.9% of households in Washington (18,990) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 298th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 9.2% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Washington compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 164 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
161O'Fallon$110,443
162Jupiter$110,240
163Shawnee$109,940
164Washington$109,870
165San Marcos$109,377
166Hoover$109,253
167Corona$109,242
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 32 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
29Cambridge$78,723
30San Clemente$78,623
31Laguna Niguel$77,395
32Washington$77,348
33Fremont$77,049
34Boca Raton$76,039
35Minnetonka$75,502
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 57 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
54Wilmington0.520
55Jupiter0.519
56Newport Beach0.518
57Washington0.517
58Hartford0.516
59Coconut Creek0.515
60Port Arthur0.515
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 219 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
216Beaumont6.4%
217Palm Desert6.4%
218Waukegan6.4%
219Washington6.3%
220Yuma6.3%
221Hampton6.3%
222Riverside6.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 96 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
93Bowie71.8%
94Wyoming71.8%
95Orem71.7%
96Washington71.6%
97Norwalk71.6%
98Overland Park71.5%
99McKinney71.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 153 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
150Lauderhill30.0
151Spring Hill30.0
152Frederick30.0
153Washington30.0
154Danbury29.9
155Cape Coral29.9
156League City29.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 21 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
18San Ramon33.9%
19Kirkland33.9%
20Holly Springs33.5%
21Washington33.0%
22Bothell32.9%
23Rockville32.7%
24Encinitas32.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 11 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
8Boston22.6%
9Revere21.8%
10East Orange20.3%
11Washington20.3%
12Bayonne19.9%
13Newark19.3%
14Somerville19.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 823 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
817Mount Vernon2.6%
818Clermont2.5%
819Anchorage2.4%
820Bowie2.4%
821Alexandria2.3%
822Homestead2.2%
823Washington1.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 783 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
780Lewisville17.6%
781Kirkland17.6%
782Alexandria17.5%
783Washington17.5%
784Johns Creek17.5%
785Santa Ana17.5%
786Little Elm17.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 185 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
182Sugar Land$1,957
183Goodyear$1,956
184Carson$1,956
185Washington$1,954
186Mansfield$1,954
187Little Elm$1,953
188Fulshear$1,952
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 110 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
107Mount Pleasant$748,500
108Rancho Cucamonga$740,200
109Upland$739,400
110Washington$737,100
111Alexandria$735,100
112Boston$731,700
113Santee$727,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 147 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
144Elizabeth6.8x
145Simi Valley6.7x
146Missoula6.7x
147Washington6.7x
148Renton6.7x
149Coeur d'Alene6.7x
150Newton6.6x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 753 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
750Cleveland41.7%
751Valdosta41.7%
752Syracuse41.6%
753Washington41.5%
754El Cajon41.5%
755Providence41.4%
756Malden41.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 546 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
543Homestead91.2%
544Ocala91.2%
545Cedar Rapids91.2%
546Washington91.2%
547Springdale91.2%
548Rock Hill91.2%
549Parma91.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Washington ranks 298 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
295Frederick5.9%
296Gresham5.9%
297Visalia5.9%
298Washington5.9%
299Killeen5.8%
300Omaha5.8%
301Glendale5.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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