Poverty and living standards in District of Columbia, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 16.4% of people in the District of Columbia lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 110,233 people; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in the District of Columbia gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for the District of Columbia was 14.1% (94,985 people), so the rate is up 2.3 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in the District of Columbia?
25.0% of children under 18 in the District of Columbia were in poverty in 2024, about 32,253 children; joint highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 24.1% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in the District of Columbia?
The Gini index of household income inequality in the District of Columbia was 0.5244 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); the most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in the District of Columbia are cost-burdened?
47.7% of renting households in the District of Columbia spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 25.0% spent half or more; the 30% share is 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in the District of Columbia get food stamps?
15.9% of households in the District of Columbia (52,355) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 6th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 52% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 45% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in the District of Columbia?
An average of 140,907 people in the District of Columbia received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 2.5% on fiscal 2024 (137,452), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in the District of Columbia?
SNAP benefits paid in the District of Columbia totaled $324.59 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $191.96 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 17th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in the District of Columbia?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 5,138 people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia, down 8.5% on 2024 (5,616) and down 21.2% on 2019 (6,521); 24th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in the District of Columbia sleep outside?
Of those counted in the District of Columbia in January 2025, 4,340 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 798 (15.5%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 11th lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in the District of Columbia?
The January 2025 count in the District of Columbia included 1,356 people in families with children, 862 children under 18, 1,431 chronically homeless individuals and 199 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in the District of Columbia are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 8.8% of households in the District of Columbia were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in the District of Columbia getting worse?
3.8% of households in the District of Columbia had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 10.3% in 2018-20 and 13.4% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -1.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow District of Columbia compares with other federal districts
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
District of Columbia ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 18.6% |
| 2 | Mississippi | 17.8% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 16.4% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.2% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
District of Columbia ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 25.0% |
| 2 | Mississippi | 25.0% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 25.0% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 20.5% |
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
District of Columbia ranks 1 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 0.5244 |
| 2 | New York | 0.5186 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 0.4989 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 0.4922 |
| 5 | California | 0.4852 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 0.4820 |
| 7 | Illinois | 0.4802 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
District of Columbia ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Utah | 48.2% |
| 35 | Ohio | 47.7% |
| 36 | Minnesota | 47.7% |
| 37 | District of Columbia | 47.7% |
| 38 | West Virginia | 47.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 46.5% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
District of Columbia ranks 6 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.7% |
| 4 | Oregon | 16.4% |
| 5 | New York | 16.2% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.0% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
District of Columbia ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Massachusetts | 9.3% |
| 46 | Vermont | 9.2% |
| 47 | Minnesota | 9.1% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 9.0% |
| 49 | District of Columbia | 8.8% |
| 50 | North Dakota | 8.6% |
| 51 | New Hampshire | 7.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
District of Columbia ranks 28 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Kentucky | 5,789 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 5,243 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 5,174 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 4,683 |
| 30 | Utah | 4,584 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 4,398 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
District of Columbia ranks 41 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Virginia | 18.6% |
| 39 | Wyoming | 18.3% |
| 40 | Michigan | 16.9% |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 15.5% |
| 42 | New Jersey | 14.5% |
| 43 | Illinois | 14.2% |
| 44 | Maryland | 12.7% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
District of Columbia ranks 42 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Hawaii | 161,312 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 150,587 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | 143,670 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | 140,907 |
| 43 | Idaho | 133,123 |
| 44 | Delaware | 118,828 |
| 45 | Montana | 79,828 |
More on District of Columbia: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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