In District of Columbia, the median household income is $109,870 and 42% of homes are owner-occupied (ACS 2020 to 2024). A safe personal loan starts with a license check, three written offers compared on total cost, and a payment that fits your own budget.
On this page
- District of Columbia by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for District of Columbia borrowers
- Largest places in District of Columbia
- How District of Columbia earns a living
- More context for District of Columbia budgets
- Checking a lender in District of Columbia
- Can District of Columbia residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in District of Columbia
- Frequently asked questions
District of Columbia by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for District of Columbia, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| Budget measure | District of Columbia | United States | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,870 | $80,734 | 1st |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.517 | 0.483 | 1st |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 19% | 21% | 37th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 54% | 41% | 1st |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 12.5% | 8th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 6.3% | 5.2% | 4th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,954 | $1,413 | 3rd |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 47% | 51% | 37th |
| Home value, median | $737,100 | $332,700 | 2nd |
| Homeownership rate | 42% | 65% | 51st |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 25% | 28% | 31st |
| Home value to income ratio | 6.7x | 4.1x | 3rd |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 19% | 17% | 8th |
| Working from home | 33% | 15% | 1st |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 64% | 36% | 1st |
| Age, median | 34.9 | 38.9 | 50th |
What the numbers mean for District of Columbia borrowers
Owners make up 42% of District of Columbia households. With a median home value of $737,100, 2nd of 51, a house costs about 6.7 years of median household income. 25% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
District of Columbia's median household income is $109,870, 1st of 51 and 36% above the U.S. figure of $80,734. Think of the median as the budget a typical offer is written for; if yours is tighter, borrow less.
District of Columbia posts an ACS unemployment rate of 6.3% and a poverty rate of 15.4%, compared with 5.2% and 12.5% for the country. If you were recently out of work, wait until you have a few steady paychecks before you apply.
33% of the District of Columbia workforce works from home, while 19% face a one-way trip of 45 minutes or longer. Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
Largest places in District of Columbia
These 1 places hold the biggest populations in District of Columbia. Income, rent and home values come from the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
| City or town | County | Population | Household income (median) | Median gross rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | District of Columbia | 681,294 | $109,870 | $1,954 | $737,100 |
District of Columbia has 1 places with 50,000 or more residents and 1 with at least 10,000. Among places of 20,000 or more, median household income runs from $109,870 in Washington to $109,870 in Washington.
How District of Columbia earns a living
Top four employers of District of Columbia residents by industry, with the gap to the U.S. mix.
| Sector | Share of District of Columbia workers | National share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 26% | 13% | +13.4 pts |
| Public administration | 18% | 5% | +13.5 pts |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 18% | 24% | -6.0 pts |
| Other services | 10% | 5% | +5.4 pts |
Compared with the country, District of Columbia leans most toward public administration, at 18% of workers against 5% nationally. Whatever the sector, bring proof of income that covers at least the last two months.
More context for District of Columbia budgets
In District of Columbia, 54% of households report $100,000 or more in income and 19% report under $35,000, against 41% and 21% for the country. Because partners generally need $30,000 or more in yearly income, the questionnaire states that floor on the income step instead of surprising anyone at the end.
A District of Columbia renter pays $1,954 a month at the median, and 47% of renters carry a rent burden of 30 percent or more, below the 51% U.S. rate. When rent rises at renewal, a fixed loan payment can collide with it, so leave room for the next increase.
The median District of Columbia resident is 34.9. Four-year degrees: 64% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.517, 1st of 51.
Checking a lender in District of Columbia
License checks come first. District of Columbia's banking agency, per the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, and many consumer lenders also show their state licenses on NMLS Consumer Access.
- File any complaint with the state agency, or with the CFPB.
- Search the lender by name on NMLS Consumer Access to see which states it is licensed in.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
Can District of Columbia residents use the questionnaire?
Partner availability depends on the state. For District of Columbia, the questionnaire checks coverage at the location step and never asks for contact details when no partner can help.
Local guides in District of Columbia
We publish 1 local guide for District of Columbia, each built on Census data for that place.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a lender's license in District of Columbia?
Start with the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, District of Columbia's banking agency in the CSBS directory. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
What is the median household income in District of Columbia?
$109,870 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 1st among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
Is rent high in District of Columbia?
Median gross rent is $1,954 a month, and 47% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
What share of District of Columbia households earn $100,000 or more?
54% of households, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, while 19% earn under $35,000. Lenders look at your own documented income, not these shares.