The Town FilesWashington, District of Columbia
City in District of Columbia · population 689,545 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $737,100
- Household income
- $109,870
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 34.9
Washington is a city of 689,545 people in District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The median home is worth $737,100, close to the typical District of Columbia town ($737,100).
How Washington ranks
Percentile among District of Columbia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of District of Columbia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washington is worth $737,100, close to the typical District of Columbia town ($737,100). Homes cost about 6.7 times the median household income of $109,870, which is more affordable than 50% of District of Columbia towns. Median rent is $1,954 a month. 41.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical District of Columbia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $737,100 | $737,100 |
| Median rent | $1,954 | $1,954 |
| Median household income | $109,870 | $109,870 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.7× | 6.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.5% | 41.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1958 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical District of Columbia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 34.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 12.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.2% | 64.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 15.4% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 33.0% | 33.0% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 30.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 91.2% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.7 inches of snow (typical District of Columbia town: 9.7 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical District of Columbia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 2.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 66 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 10, 1975.
Severe weather in District of Columbia since 1996
District of Columbia has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2026 | Other | EM-3643: Sewer Line Collapse |
| January 11, 2021 | Other | EM-3553: 59Th Presidential Inauguration |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4502: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3447: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4260: Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in District of Columbia
District of Columbia had 759,572 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $122,982 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Washington
243 public schools with 92,679 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson-Reed HS | 9-12 | 1,994 | 14.3 |
| District of Columbia International School (charter) | 6-12 | 1,619 | 10.7 |
| Columbia Heights Education Campus | 6-12 | 1,494 | 10.5 |
| Deal MS | 6-8 | 1,420 | 12.7 |
| Coolidge HS | 9-12 | 1,093 | 14.2 |
| Dunbar HS | 9-12 | 984 | 13.1 |
| Lafayette ES | PK-5 | 933 | 15.3 |
| Roosevelt HS | 9-12 | 908 | 11.6 |
| Eastern HS | 9-12 | 866 | 11.2 |
| Ingenuity Prep PCS (charter) | PK-8 | 792 | 8.2 |
| Oyster-Adams Bilingual School | PK-8 | 781 | 12.0 |
| Bancroft ES | PK-5 | 768 | 13.2 |
Towns near Washington
- Mount Rainier, MD3.8 mi · 8,333 people · home $529,600
- Brentwood, MD4.2 mi · 3,828 people · home $412,500
- Chillum, MD4.8 mi · 36,039 people · home $393,600
- Arlington, VA4.9 mi · 238,643 people · home $895,000
- Hyattsville, MD5.1 mi · 21,187 people · home $481,500
- Hillcrest Heights, MD5.3 mi · 15,793 people · home $364,000
- Takoma Park, MD5.3 mi · 17,629 people · home $749,200
- Bladensburg, MD5.5 mi · 9,657 people · home $336,100
Washington questions
Is Washington, District of Columbia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 50% of District of Columbia towns and quieter than 50%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $737,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,870, so homes cost about 6.7 times income. Median rent is $1,954 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 9.7 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical District of Columbia town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)