Washington, District of Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 109.5, which is 9.5 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,954 per month, while the typical home is valued around $737,100. Households earn a median of $109,870 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 24. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$109,870
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,954
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$737,100
Median Home Value
Census ACS
109.5
Cost of Living Index
1BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
109.5
Goods
106.4
Rents / Housing
151.9
Services
105.7
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $151,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $102,510 |
| Elementary Teacher | $78,790 |
| Electrician | $78,580 |
| Accountant | $108,670 |
| Plumber | $71,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $209,050 |
| Civil Engineer | $108,530 |
| Operations Manager | $160,690 |
| Market Research Analyst | $97,910 |
| Health Services Manager | $156,970 |
| Truck Driver | $60,610 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $156,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
681,294
Latest estimate
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Census ACS
24.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
57
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,917
Per month
Avg Home Value
$713,864
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 20001 | — | $2,458 | $823,800 |
| ZIP 20002 | — | $1,979 | $789,500 |
| ZIP 20003 | — | $2,564 | $925,800 |
| ZIP 20004 | — | $2,771 | $660,500 |
| ZIP 20005 | — | $2,132 | $602,100 |
| ZIP 20006 | — | $1,898 | $235,400 |
| ZIP 20007 | — | $1,961 | $1,181,000 |
| ZIP 20008 | — | $2,212 | $905,900 |
| ZIP 20009 | — | $2,208 | $723,100 |
| ZIP 20010 | — | $1,744 | $817,500 |
Showing top 10 of 57 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
37°F
July Avg
81°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.9
poor
Hospitals
10
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
96.4%
Washington has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 109.5. The US national average is 100, so Washington is 9.5 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Washington is $1,954 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Washington is $109,870 per year.
The median home value in Washington is $737,100 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Washington has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 24.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for District of Columbia is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
