Washington DC
District of Columbia · Pop. 681,294
Washington, DC: median household income of $109,870, median rent of $1,954/mo, 6.4% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$109,870
per year
Median Rent
$1,954
per month
Median Home
$737k
home value
Unemployment
6.4%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
15.4%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
30 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Washington, DC Reality Check"
In Washington, the rent-to-income burden runs around 21% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $109,870 and median rent is $1,954/month. 44% of renters spend 30%+ of income on housing — above the national average. Median home value: $737,100 — that's 6.7× the median income. 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 6.35% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 15.4%. Average commute: 30 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 63.7/100k avg monthly rate (21260 reported); Property crime: 268.4/100k avg monthly rate (89370 reported). Washington was founded in 1790 — that's 236 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 68.3 sq miles at 9,969 people/sq mile — densely packed. Elevation: 236 ft — modest elevation. Known as: "Chocolate City". Washington has 16 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 60/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Weather
/100Average high 66.6°F, low 49.3°F. 26 days per year above 90°F. 63.3 inches of annual precipitation.
Safety
/100Violent crime: 63.7/100k avg monthly rate (21260 reported); Property crime: 268.4/100k avg monthly rate (89370 reported).