Washington, District of Columbia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Washington is a major urban center located in District of Columbia. The total population is 681,294. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 1 Census-designated places in District of Columbia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington is 34.9 years. This is about the same as the state median of 34.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington is $109,870. This is about the same as the state median of $109,870. It is also 36% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 15.4%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. The median home value is $737,100. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $737,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 41.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Washington is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 36.5%.

Education

64.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is about the same as the state rate of 64.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.7%. Notably, 38.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Washington, District of Columbia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against District of Columbia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1 Census-designated places in District of Columbia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.