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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Washington Metro

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · 23 counties · 6,278,542 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 $108,354. Population has grown 32% since 2000. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $474,756.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,278,542
+32%since 2000
from 4,762,865 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,040 / sq mi
+32%since 2000
from 789 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.3
+7%since 2000
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3.9M4.5M5.2M5.9M6.5M1990201020202024Washington
20246.3M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$108,354
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,059 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,445
+68%since 2000
from $30,646 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
65.6%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
7.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information7.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade2.9%
US avg: 10%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$474,756
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $181,721 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,697
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $835 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
62.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 64.5% in 2000
37.5% rent
Afford Score
4.4
+54%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Washington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.1%(2,624,169)
Black26.3%(1,250,659)
Hispanic / Latino9%(429,502)
Asian6.9%(327,069)
Other0%
Diversity Score74.1%(3,527,208)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic41.8%(2,622,996)
Black24.3%(1,522,945)
Hispanic / Latino17.4%(1,090,307)
Asian11%(693,118)
Other4.3%(268,595)
Diversity Score89.4%(5,612,959)
Segregation Score44.7%(2,809,524)
Diversity Score
89
+21%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
45
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 42.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.2%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 86.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
25.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
34.8 min
+43%since 2000
from 24.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
63.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
71.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 73.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
53.6%
−19.9 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
23.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.5%
−80.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+26%
Home value$1,186,704+150%
Population4,630,041−28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Boston
Income$116,759+8%
Home value$656,837+38%
Population5,034,221−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Philadelphia
Income$94,031−13%
Home value$347,163−27%
Population6,329,118−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHINGTON VS
Atlanta
Income$91,036−16%
Home value$376,129−21%
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 6,278,542 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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 $108,354 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 $474,756, and the typical rent is about $1,697 a month.

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

About 51.6% 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 7.6% 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 2,172,587 residents, a change of about 53 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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