Poverty and living standards in Washington, District of Columbia: official figures
15.4% of residents of Washington (101,008 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 270th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; District of Columbia: 15.4%).
How many children live in poverty in Washington?
22.8% of children under 18 in Washington lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (28,562 children), 192nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; District of Columbia: 22.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Washington?
By age, the poverty rate in Washington was 19.1% for children under 6 and 16.3% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Washington live in deep poverty?
60,272 people in Washington, 9.2% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 152nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Washington are cost-burdened?
46.6% of renting households in Washington spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (84,085 households), 165th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; District of Columbia: 46.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Washington spend half their income on rent?
23.6% of renting households in Washington spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 248th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Washington are food insecure?
An estimated 16.0% of adults in Washington experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 248th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 13.4% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Washington compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 270 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 267 | Stockton | 15.5% |
| 268 | Tampa | 15.5% |
| 269 | Kenner | 15.4% |
| 270 | Washington | 15.4% |
| 271 | Waukegan | 15.3% |
| 272 | Sioux City | 15.3% |
| 273 | Davenport | 15.2% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 192 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 189 | Jersey City | 22.9% |
| 190 | Lynchburg | 22.8% |
| 191 | Pompano Beach | 22.8% |
| 192 | Washington | 22.8% |
| 193 | High Point | 22.8% |
| 194 | Plainfield | 22.7% |
| 195 | St. Joseph | 22.7% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 152 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 149 | Lansing | 9.3% |
| 150 | Wichita Falls | 9.2% |
| 151 | Paterson | 9.2% |
| 152 | Washington | 9.2% |
| 153 | Bellingham | 9.2% |
| 154 | Boston | 9.1% |
| 155 | Killeen | 9.1% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 659 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 656 | Redwood City | 46.7% |
| 657 | Bayonne | 46.7% |
| 658 | Lancaster | 46.6% |
| 659 | Washington | 46.6% |
| 660 | Columbus | 46.6% |
| 661 | San Mateo | 46.5% |
| 662 | St. Clair Shores | 46.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Washington ranks 344 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 341 | Napa | 16.1% |
| 342 | Moore | 16.1% |
| 343 | Jeffersonville | 16.1% |
| 344 | Washington | 16.0% |
| 345 | Norwalk | 16.0% |
| 346 | Orange | 15.9% |
| 347 | Sterling Heights | 15.9% |
More on Washington: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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