State Cost of Living & Safety Data
District of Columbia City Data Dashboard
Compare cities across District of Columbia by rent, safety, commute, and quality of life.
Population
672K
Census 2022
Median Rent
$1,730/mo
ACS 2022
Median Income
$101,722/yr
ACS 2022
Median Home Value
$669,800
ACS 2022
District of Columbia has a diverse mix of cities ranging from large metros to mid-size regional hubs. Use the data below to compare cost of living, crime rates, and community scores across every city we track.
Median rent and income vary significantly across District of Columbia. Filter and expand individual city cards to see the full baseline dataset for any city.
1 Cities in District of Columbia
Explore the 1 cities below to find the best place to live in District of Columbia.
Planning a move to District of Columbia?
These calculators pair well with the District of Columbia, DC dashboard.
How we calculate District of Columbia cities scores
City scores blend federal baseline data with community reports from residents. The more reports a city has, the more the score reflects current conditions rather than historical averages.
Data sources
- Baseline data: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Uniform Crime Report, HUD, CMS
- Community reports: Grocery prices, rent costs, crime incidents, road conditions, and hospital wait times submitted by residents
- Verification: Reports with receipts, photos, or news links are marked verified and weighted 2x
Category weights
The overall score is a weighted average of four categories:
Confidence tiers
Confidence tells you how reliable a score is based on report volume and recency:
- High confidence: 50+ effective reports in the last 30 days
- Medium confidence: 10-49 effective reports in 30 days
- Low confidence: Fewer than 10 reports; score relies mainly on federal baseline data
Score formula
CityScore = (BaselineWeight × BaselineScore) + (CrowdWeight × CommunityScore)
CrowdWeight grows from 0% to 50% as reports accumulate. Verified reports count double.
Frequently Asked Questions About District of Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best city to live in District of Columbia?
Based on our composite score of safety, cost of living, roads and healthcare, Washington ranks highest among the 1 District of Columbia cities we track with a score of 55 out of 100. Expand the city card above to see the full breakdown.
What is the most affordable city in District of Columbia?
Among District of Columbia cities we track, Washington has the lowest median rent at $1,900/month according to Census ACS data. The District of Columbia state median rent is $1,730/month.
Which city in District of Columbia has the lowest crime rate?
Washington has the lowest violent crime index (213) among tracked District of Columbia cities, where the national average is 100. Lower numbers indicate less crime relative to national averages.
What is the median household income in District of Columbia?
The median household income in District of Columbia is $101,722 annually per 2022 ACS data. This compares to a national median of approximately $75,000. District of Columbia has a population of 0.7 million.
How do District of Columbia home prices compare nationally?
The median home value in District of Columbia is $669,800, which is above the national median of approximately $300,000. Median rent is $1,730/month based on Census ACS 2022 data.
Which District of Columbia city has the shortest commute?
Washington has the shortest average commute at 21 minutes among the District of Columbia cities we track.