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Washington, District of Columbia

Map Of Washington
QuickFacts
Population:581,530
Pop. Change:2%
State: District of Columbia
Metro Area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metro Area
County: District of Columbia County
City:Washington
Zip Code:20011, 20039, ... 267 more

City Overview

As of 2007, Washington's population is 581,530 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 1.66 percent.

The median home cost in Washington is $862,400. Home appreciation the last year has been -5.12 percent.

Compared to the rest of the country, Washington's cost of living is 65.92% Higher than the U.S. average.

Washington public schools spend $8,334 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 13 students per teacher in Washington.

The unemployment rate in Washington is 5.40 percent(U.S. avg. is 4.60%). Recent job growth is Positive. Washington jobs have Increased by 2.61 percent.

Washington SperlingFile

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People

The 2007 Washington, DC, population is 581,530. There are 9,459 people per square mile (population density).

Family in Washington, DC

The median age is 35.7. The US median is 37.6. 33.86% of people in Washington, DC, are married. 9.60% are divorced.

The average household size is 2.08 people. 8.21% of people are married, with children. 11.40% have children, but are single.

Race in Washington, DC

31.74% of people are white, 56.91% are black, 3.23% are asian, 0.30% are native american, and 7.60% claim 'Other'.

10.14% of the people in Washington, DC, claim hispanic ethnicity (meaning 89.86% are non-hispanic).

Washington People SperlingViews

There's always a lot to do: It's the Nation's Capitol! Tourists come from all over to enjoy what the city has to offer. There's a lot to see: there are museums, The White House, historic... (read more)So much to do!: The Washington, DC metro area is a fantastic place to live if you like energy and excitement. The cultural, artistic, sports & entertainment opportunities are numerous.... (read more)Great place: Great place to live with lots of things to do all of the... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

PeopleWashington, DCUnited States
Population581,530293,655,400
Pop. Density9,45980
Pop. Change1.66%5.88%
Median Age35.737.6
Households254,756108,954,329
Household Size2.082.6
Male Population47.60%48.65%
Female Population52.40%51.35%
Married Population33.86%58.89%
Single Population66.14%41.11%

Economy

The unemployment rate in Washington, DC, is 5.40%, with job growth of 2.61%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 25.18%.

Washington, DC Taxes

Washington, DC,sales tax rate is 5.75%. Income tax is 9.50%.

Washington, DC Income and Salaries

The income per capita is $35,080, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $47,626.

Washington Economy SperlingViews

One of the least bearable commutes: Washington is known for having the second longest commuting times in the nation. If you can travel a part of your route by bicycle, you can alleviate the stress or... (read more)High gay population, Traffic, Crime, Condos, and m: There is no way you can compare DC to larger cities such as New York, LA, and Chicago. DC is not very big, it has its own culture, which is slowly dying, history, and... (read more)Catch the METRO: Washington, DC has an excellent transportation system called the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA also know as METRO.... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

EconomyWashington, DCUnited States
Unemployment Rate5.40%4.60%
Recent Job Growth2.61%1.40%
Future Job Growth25.18%11.90%
Sales Taxes5.75%6.00%
Income Taxes9.50%5.02%
Income per Cap.$35,080$24,020
Household Income$47,626$44,684
ESTIMATED HOUSEHOLDS BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Income Less Than 15K17.94%13.64%
Income between 15K and 25K9.40%11.21%
Income between 25K and 35K10.25%11.46%
Income between 35K and 50K14.36%15.84%
Income between 50K and 75K15.98%19.28%
Income between 75K and 100K9.98%11.53%
Income between 100K and 150K11.27%10.70%
Income between 150K and 250K6.53%4.43%
Income between 250K and 500K2.71%1.31%
Income greater than 500K1.58%0.61%
POPULATION BY OCCUPATION
Management, Business, and Financial Operations18.57%13.61%
Professional and Related Occupations32.05%20.24%
Service16.33%14.75%
Sales and Office22.89%26.74%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry0.06%0.74%
Construction, Extraction, and Maintenance4.83%9.48%
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving5.27%14.44%

Housing

The median home value in Washington, DC, is $862,400. Home appreciation is -5.12% over the last year. The median age of Washington, DC, real estate is 54 years.

Washington, DC Apartments and Rentals

Renters make up 54.16% of the Washington, DC, population. 9.71% of houses and apartments in Washington, DC, are unoccupied (vacancy rate).

Washington Housing SperlingViews

Housing Cost: The Condominium market in Washington is thriving. The Logan Circle district is developing into a young and happening area to live. There are still afordable housing in... (read more)Expensive housing!: For a city in which so many government employees work, DC's housing and rental prices are completely ridiculous. There are some neighborhoods near DC that are... (read more)Washington, DC vs. Richmond, VA: My job relocated to Richmond, VA this past Jan. from Washington, DC so here is my take on both places. I moved to Washington, DC in 2001 after living in Florida for... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

HousingWashington, DCUnited States
Median Home Age5427
Median Home Cost$862,400$217,200
Home Appreciation-5.12%9.80%
Homes Owned36.27%64.07%
Housing Vacant9.71%14.48%
Homes Rented54.16%21.45%
Property Tax Rate$7.32$13.28
OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY VALUE
Less Than $20,0000.20%3.01%
$20,000 to $39,9990.23%4.37%
$40,000 to $59,9990.42%5.74%
$60,000 to $79,9990.75%7.07%
$80,000 to $99,9991.32%8.41%
$100,000 to $149,9999.04%19.74%
$150,000 to $199,99917.88%14.06%
$200,000 to $299,99927.00%16.59%
$300,000 to $399,99910.69%8.21%
$400,000 to $499,9996.80%4.53%
$500,000 to $749,99912.24%4.75%
$1,000,000 or more7.42%1.86%
HOUSING UNITS BY YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT
1999 to October 20053.97%10.15%
1995 to 19980.92%6.69%
1990 to 19941.21%6.70%
1980 to 19894.87%14.75%
1970 to 19798.40%17.11%
1960 to 196914.94%12.78%
1950 to 195916.26%11.64%
1940 to 194916.09%6.64%
1939 or Earlier33.33%13.55%

Health

There are 639 physicians per capita in Washington, DC. The US average is 170.

Washington, DC Health Index

Air quality in Washington, DC is 34 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.

Water quality in Washington, DC is 40 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators.

Superfund index is 90 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts.

Washington Health SperlingViews

I want to live in DC: Iam living in tampa fl for 6 year,and i looking forward to move to a real city.any... (read more)Great Culture, People, Diversity - but Expensive!: I love living here, but the cost of living, especially housing prices, are very... (read more)The District: Well...politics may have been leaked into the water supply. I am moving soon and hope to never return to the area for more than 3 days a year. The people are very... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

HealthWashington, DCUnited States
Air Quality (100=best)3448
Water Quality (100=best)4055
Superfund Sites (100=best)9071
Physicians per 100k639169.7

Crime

Washington, DC, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 8. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3.

Washington, DC, property crime, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10, is 7. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The US average is 3.

Washington Crime SperlingViews

personal safety?: My opinion of general safety when I leave my house? Not so good. I know many people who live in this city who have had a bad experience, in all parts of the city. ... (read more)Great fun, as long as you avoid being out at night: DC/MD/VA was a tough place to live, especially for a single white female. It's a decent place during the day, but I wouldn't reccomend going anywhere at night unless... (read more)There's always a lot to do: It's the Nation's Capitol! Tourists come from all over to enjoy what the city has to offer. There's a lot to see: there are museums, The White House, historic... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

CrimeWashington, DCUnited States
Violent Crime83
Property Crime73

Climate

Washington, DC, gets 43 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 13 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 115.

On average, there are 203 sunny days per year in Washington, DC. The July high is around 87 degrees. The January low is 26. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 41 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.

Washington Climate SperlingViews

Washington, DC: A very expensive city to live however may activities such as the Kennedy Center and federal muesums make it very attractive. The weather is warm and the winter is... (read more)Fall: Washington, DC is in proximity of numerous beautiful state and federal parks, which allows for good outdoors and hiking, especially in the... (read more)One of the least bearable commutes: Washington is known for having the second longest commuting times in the nation. If you can travel a part of your route by bicycle, you can alleviate the stress or... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

ClimateWashington, DCUnited States
Rainfall (in.)43.436.6
Snowfall (in.)13.225.2
Precipitation Days115101
Sunny Days203205
Avg. July High87.186.5
Avg. Jan. Low26.320.8
Comfort Index (higher=better)4144
UV Index4.14.3
Elevation ft.2301,062

Educate

Washington, DC, schools spend $8,334 per student. There are 13 pupils per teacher, 473 students per librarian, and 328 children per counselor in Washington, DC schools.

Washington Education SperlingViews

I want to live in DC: Iam living in tampa fl for 6 year,and i looking forward to move to a real city.any... (read more)Great Culture, People, Diversity - but Expensive!: I love living here, but the cost of living, especially housing prices, are very... (read more)The District: Well...politics may have been leaked into the water supply. I am moving soon and hope to never return to the area for more than 3 days a year. The people are very... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

EducationWashington, DCUnited States
School Expend.$8,334$6,058
Pupil/Teacher Ratio1315.9
Students per Librarian473907
Students per Counselor328546
2 yr College Grad.2.73%8.22%
4 yr College Grad.17.99%15.16%
Graduate Degrees20.98%7.16%
High School Grads.77.83%79.62%

Transportation

The average one-way commute in Washington, DC, takes 33 minutes. 38% of commuters drive their own car alone. 11% carpool with others. 33% take mass transit and 4% work from home.

Washington Transportation SperlingViews

One of the least bearable commutes: Washington is known for having the second longest commuting times in the nation. If you can travel a part of your route by bicycle, you can alleviate the stress or... (read more)High gay population, Traffic, Crime, Condos, and m: There is no way you can compare DC to larger cities such as New York, LA, and Chicago. DC is not very big, it has its own culture, which is slowly dying, history, and... (read more)Catch the METRO: Washington, DC has an excellent transportation system called the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA also know as METRO.... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

TransportationWashington, DCUnited States
Commute Time32.927.4
COMMUTE MODE
Auto (alone)38.46%71.32%
Carpool10.91%14.52%
Mass Transit33.14%2.00%
Work at Home3.77%5.46%
COMMUTE TIME TO WORK
Commute Less Than 15 min.15.74%28.89%
Commute 15 to 29 min.36.54%36.08%
Commute 30 to 44 min.28.40%19.35%
Commute 45 to 59 min.10.05%7.57%
Commute greater than 60 min.9.28%8.12%

Cost of Living

Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Washington, DC is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Washington, DC is more expensive.

Overall, Washington, DC cost of living is 165.92.

Washington Cost of Living SperlingViews

Expensive housing!: For a city in which so many government employees work, DC's housing and rental prices are completely ridiculous. There are some neighborhoods near DC that are... (read more)Washington, DC vs. Richmond, VA: My job relocated to Richmond, VA this past Jan. from Washington, DC so here is my take on both places. I moved to Washington, DC in 2001 after living in Florida for... (read more)Great place to live...if you can afford it.: I have lived in Southern Cal for many years. I moved to the DC area in 1988 for the season changes. The DC area is full of fun things to do for the whole family. DC also... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

CostoflivingWashington, DCUnited States
Overall166100
Food113100
Utilities86100
Miscellaneous110100

Religion

73.16% of the people in Washington, DC are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 27.98% are Catholic; 24.63% are Protestant; 0.14% are LDS; 5.32% are another Christian faith; 4.46% in Washington, DC are Jewish; 0.06% are an eastern faith; 10.57% affilite with Islam.

Washington Religion SperlingViews

I want to live in DC: Iam living in tampa fl for 6 year,and i looking forward to move to a real city.any... (read more)Great Culture, People, Diversity - but Expensive!: I love living here, but the cost of living, especially housing prices, are very... (read more)The District: Well...politics may have been leaked into the water supply. I am moving soon and hope to never return to the area for more than 3 days a year. The people are very... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

ReligionWashington, DCUnited States
Percent Religious73.16%50.03%
Catholic27.98%21.92%
Protestant24.63%19.12%
LDS0.14%1.57%
Baptist15.86%8.16%
Episcopalian3.44%8.12%
Pentecostal0.34%1.89%
Lutheran0.84%2.81%
Methodist2.69%3.84%
Presbyterian1.45%1.33%
Other Christian5.32%4.66%
Jewish4.46%2.16%
Eastern0.06%0.05%
Islam10.57%0.54%

Voting

89.18% of the people in Washington, DC are registered as Democrats. 9.34% are registered Republican. Remaining are independent: 1.48%.

Washington Voting SperlingViews

personal safety?: My opinion of general safety when I leave my house? Not so good. I know many people who live in this city who have had a bad experience, in all parts of the city. ... (read more)Great fun, as long as you avoid being out at night: DC/MD/VA was a tough place to live, especially for a single white female. It's a decent place during the day, but I wouldn't reccomend going anywhere at night unless... (read more)There's always a lot to do: It's the Nation's Capitol! Tourists come from all over to enjoy what the city has to offer. There's a lot to see: there are museums, The White House, historic... (read more)Have an opinion about Washington? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Washington Click Here

VotingWashington, DCUnited States
Democrat89.184%48.590%
Republican9.340%51.070%
Independent Other0.222%0.066%
Independent Liberal1.033%0.475%
Independent Conservative0.221%0.447%