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METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Washington Metro

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · 23 counties · 4,762,865 residents · 6,034.457 sq mi
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The short version

Washington is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $64,059. Population has grown 16% since 1990. 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $181,721.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.9
US median: 35.2
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 16%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,762,865
+16%since 1990
from 4,105,955 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
789 / sq mi
+16%since 1990
from 680 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
34.9
+7%since 1990
from 32.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
3.9M4.5M5.2M5.9M6.5M1990201020202024Washington
20246.3M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,059
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $46,814 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,646
+45%since 1990
from $21,122 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
7.5%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 6.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$181,721
−16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $163,491 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$835
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $682 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
64.5%
+2.7 ptssince 1990
from 61.8% in 1990
35.5% rent
Afford Score
2.8
−19%since 1990
from 3.5 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Washington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic66.8%(2,742,019)
Black25.8%(1,060,034)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(220,626)
Asian4.9%(202,989)
Diversity Score66.6%(2,735,458)
2000
White, non-Hispanic55.1%(2,624,169)
Black26.3%(1,250,659)
Hispanic / Latino9%(429,502)
Asian6.9%(327,069)
Diversity Score74.1%(3,527,208)
Diversity Score
74
+11%since 1990
from 67 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.1%
+5.0 ptssince 1990
from 37.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
86.8%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 84.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
18.9%
+3.1 ptssince 1990
from 15.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
−13%since 1990
from 28.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

WashingtonCENTRAL693,645ArlingtonCENTRAL236,254AlexandriaCENTRAL160,662FrederickCENTRAL92,059GaithersburgCENTRAL71,113BethesdaCENTRAL69,397RockvilleCENTRAL67,563RestonCENTRAL64,414North BethesdaCENTRAL49,677McLeanCENTRAL49,627
What's inside

23 component counties

Fairfax CountyCENTRAL1,167,873Montgomery CountyCENTRAL1,074,582Prince George's CountyCENTRAL970,374District of ColumbiaCENTRAL693,645Prince William CountyCENTRAL502,966Loudoun CountyCENTRAL449,749Frederick County302,883Arlington CountyCENTRAL243,931Charles County176,593Stafford CountyCENTRAL170,803AlexandriaCENTRAL160,662Spotsylvania County155,388Fauquier County76,503Jefferson County63,102Culpeper County57,666ManassasCENTRAL44,332Warren County42,740Fredericksburg30,393FairfaxCENTRAL26,772Manassas ParkCENTRAL16,560Clarke County15,609Falls ChurchCENTRAL15,159Rappahannock County7,439
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Washington

San Francisco
Pop 4,630,041
Boston
Pop 5,034,221
Philadelphia
Pop 6,329,118
Atlanta
Pop 6,482,182
Places similar to Washington
Head to head

Compare Washington side by side

WASHINGTON VS
San Francisco
Income$136,713+113%
Home value$1,186,704+553%
Population4,630,041−28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Boston
Income$116,759+82%
Home value$656,837+261%
Population5,034,221−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Philadelphia
Income$94,031+47%
Home value$347,163+91%
Population6,329,118−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Atlanta
Income$91,036+42%
Home value$376,129+107%
Population6,482,182same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has about 4,762,865 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

The typical household in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV earns about $64,059 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV expensive?

In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, the median home is worth about $181,721, and the typical rent is about $835 a month.

How educated are people in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

About 42.1% of adults age 25 and over in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

About 7.5% of people in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV live below the federal poverty line.

Has Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV grown since 1990?

Yes, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has grown since 1990. The population has added about 656,910 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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