Washington vs Philadelphia

Side-by-side comparison of Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA — population, economics, education, health, hospitals, climate, and cost of living from official U.S. government data.

Washington

District of Columbia

Pop: 690K

Income: $109,870

Home: $737,100

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Pop: 1.6M

Income: $61,953

Home: $243,100

Population

690K

Population

1.6M

Median Age

34.9 yrs

Median Age

35.3 yrs

10-Year Pop Growth

N/A

10-Year Pop Growth

N/A

Economics

Median Household Income

$109,870

Median Household Income

$61,953

Median Home Value

$737,100

Median Home Value

$243,100

Median Rent

$1,954

Median Rent

$1,397

Poverty Rate

15.4%

Poverty Rate

21.4%

Unemployment Rate

6.3%

Unemployment Rate

8.1%

10-Year Income Growth

N/A

10-Year Income Growth

N/A

Education & Work

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

64.2%

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

35.4%

Work From Home

33%

Work From Home

18.4%

Public Transit

20.3%

Public Transit

16.7%

Health (CDC PLACES)

Frequent Mental Distress

14.1%

Frequent Mental Distress

N/A

Obesity

24.7%

Obesity

N/A

Physical Inactivity

14.9%

Physical Inactivity

N/A

Smoking

9.4%

Smoking

N/A

Lack of Health Insurance

6.5%

Lack of Health Insurance

N/A

Healthcare

Hospitals

Avg Hospital Rating

N/A

Avg Hospital Rating

3.2/5

Demographics

Washington Population

White 37.9%

African American 42.1%

Asian 4.4%

Two or More Races 3.7%

Philadelphia Population

White 35.1%

African American 39.4%

Asian 8%

Two or More Races 1.9%

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Data Sources

Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-year estimates). Health data from the CDC PLACES (2023). Hospital data from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Climate data from NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020). Cost of living from BEA Regional Price Parities via FRED.