City safety & data profile

WashingtonDC

Washington, DC is a 690K-resident city in District of Columbia with a median household income of $109,870.

District of Columbia, District of Columbia. Federal health, economic, and safety indicators for Washington, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, CDC PLACES, and CMS Hospital Compare. Washington has a population larger than 99% of the 4,640 U.S. cities Areazine tracks, a median home value of $737,100, and 10 hospitals serving the surrounding area.

Data updated 2026-07-19

690K
Population
Top 1%
By size
$109,870
Median income
$737,100
Median home
15.4%
Poverty rate

The read on Washington

Washington posts a median household income higher than 77% of U.S. cities Areazine tracks, where 1 recent safety alert is on record and 10 hospitals serve the Washington area.

Top 23%
by median income, US cities
1
safety alert on record
10
hospitals in & near Washington

Where Washington income ranks nationally

Median household income vs. every place Areazine profiles (place-level ACS)

$109,870 Top 23% higher than 77% of 3,889 places Areazine profiles

$0–$20,000: 0 places Areazine profiles (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 71 places Areazine profiles (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 788 places Areazine profiles (20%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 1,055 places Areazine profiles (27%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 768 places Areazine profiles (20%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 515 places Areazine profiles (13%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 308 places Areazine profiles (8%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 171 places Areazine profiles (4%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 92 places Areazine profiles (2%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 47 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $220,000–$240,000: 18 places Areazine profiles (0%). Above this entry. $240,000–$260,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. DC $0 $260,000 every profiled place, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more places Areazine profiles. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (place-level) · 2024 ACS 5-year

The quick read

Reading Washington, DC beyond the headline numbers

Washington sits inside District of Columbia, District of Columbia, at roughly 38.90°N, -77.04°W. Population 689,545, $109,870 median household income. Median home value $737,100, median rent $1,954. Poverty rate 15.4%, read against that income figure since two cities on the same median can differ underneath it.

CDC PLACES: Washington's highest-prevalence health measure is short sleep duration at 33.1%, then high blood pressure at 27.7%. 10 hospitals in/around Washington, 2.9/5 avg rating, 6 with an ER.

Sources: U.S. Census ACS, CDC PLACES, CMS Hospital Compare, plus live alerts for Washington from FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC. Comparison bars benchmark each metric against the national reference.

Population
689,545
Washington
Median Income
$109,870
+62% vs avg
Median Home Value
$737,100
+224% vs avg
Median Age
34.9
years

10-Year Trends 2013–2024

County-level trend (District of Columbia) - Washington's own historical series isn't separately published by the Census Bureau, so these year-over-year figures track the surrounding county, not the city alone.

20132024
Population
681K+10%
Median Income
$109,870+67%
Median Home Value
$737,100+66%
Poverty Rate
15.4%-17%
Unemployment
6.3%-42%

Economics

Economics indicators for Washington, DC
IndicatorValue
Median Rent
$1,954/mo
Poverty Rate
15.4% +8% vs avg
Unemployment 6.3%
Bachelor's Degree+ 64.2%
Work From Home 33%
Public Transit 20.3%

Population

White 37.9%
African American 42.1%
Asian 4.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.7%

Health Profile 15 measures

Health Indicators

Short Sleep Duration
33.1%
High Blood Pressure
27.7%
Obesity
24.6%
Binge Drinking
24%
Physical Inactivity
15.3%
Frequent Mental Distress
14.6%
Current Asthma
10.4%
Current Smoking
9.7%
Frequent Physical Distress
9.4%
Diabetes
7.8%

Preventive Care

Dental Visit 68.3%
Annual Checkup 75.2%

Other Measures

Lack of Health Insurance
6.7%
Coronary Heart Disease
3.7%
Stroke
2.8%

Hospitals 10 total

Rating Distribution
★★★★★
1
★★★★
0
★★★
4
★★
1
1
Average Rating
2.9/5
Total Hospitals
10
With ER
6
SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★★★
MEDSTAR GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★☆☆
UNITED MEDICAL CENTER
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★☆☆
MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★☆☆
WASHINGTON DC VA MEDICAL CENTER
WASHINGTON · Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER
★★★☆☆
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV HOSPITAL
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★☆☆☆
HOWARD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CORP
WASHINGTON · Acute Care Hospitals
★☆☆☆☆

Alerts & News - Washington Area 1

Frequently Asked Questions 6

What is the population of Washington, DC?
Washington, DC has a population of 689,545 people, located in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
What is the median household income in Washington?
The median household income in Washington, DC is $109,870 per year, per the U.S. Census ACS. The poverty rate is 15.4%.
What is the median home value in Washington?
The median home value in Washington, DC is $737,100. Median rent is $1,954/month.
What are the top health concerns in Washington?
The top health indicators in Washington include Short Sleep Duration (33.1%), High Blood Pressure (27.7%), Obesity (24.6%). Data from CDC PLACES.
How many hospitals are in Washington?
Washington has 10 hospitals with an average rating of 2.9/5 stars. 6 have emergency departments.
What is the median age in Washington?
The median age in Washington, DC is 34.9 years. 64.2% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Safety Context

Washington, DC is located in District of Columbia, District of Columbia. With a population of 690K and a $109,870 median household income, the community faces health challenges including short sleep duration and high blood pressure. Residents have access to 10 hospitals with an average rating of 2.9/5 stars. Safety alerts for the Washington area are monitored from federal and state agencies including FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC.

Safety Guides

Primary source data

Nearby Cities 8

Using Washington's profile

Use this as a starting research checklist, not a verdict on whether to live here.

  • Check live recalls, weather and hazard alerts scoped to the Washington area before relying on national headlines. Check your area
  • Read the poverty rate alongside the income figure, two places with the same median can have very different realities.
  • Compare Washington against District of Columbia peers on any ranking lens. Explore District of Columbia

Population and economics (income, home value, poverty, education) are place-level U.S. Census ACS; health is CDC PLACES; hospital counts reflect facilities in and around the city.

Data Sources

All data on this page comes from official U.S. government sources. Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates, place geography). Health data from the CDC PLACES program (2023). Hospital ratings from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Climate data from NOAA. Education data from NCES. Cost of living from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Crime statistics, where referenced on Areazine, originate from the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Housing market figures referenced on Areazine come from HUD Fair Market Rents. Census economics and population are at place geography; some health and hospital indicators are reported at the county level (District of Columbia) where that is the smallest published unit.

Every figure on Areazine is published directly from official U.S. government sources, no number is typed in by an editor. City demographic and health figures are compiled directly from U.S. Census, CDC, and CMS releases, updated quarterly within 30 days of upstream release. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.