Federal district
District of Columbia
D+87 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 152
10.75%
Income Tax
750
Violent Crime / 100K
77.1
Life Expectancy
$640K
Median Home
$2,350
Childcare / Mo
District of Columbia in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to District of Columbia
The District of Columbia is not a state but taxes like one: a graduated income tax that tops out at 10.75%, an estate tax with a $4.7 million exemption, and property taxes that are lower than the surrounding suburbs because commercial property carries much of the load. Residents pay federal income tax without voting representation in Congress. Social Security is not taxed.
What District of Columbia taxes, and what it doesn't
District of Columbia levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 10.75%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 6.4%, about $4,775 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 7.4%. Among the 41 states that tax income, District of Columbia has the highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 0.56% of home value a year, roughly $3,584 on the state's median home of $640K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and District of Columbia has the 14th lowest rate of the 50 states.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Top rate on income over $1M
Property Tax
~$3,584/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
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Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Above US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs are common (Census ACS 2024)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
District-wide STR regulations/licensing in effect.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Well above national avg
Property Crime Rate
Above national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the safest
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Among the highest homelessness rates; 16% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on District of Columbia
Healthcare#5 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Top tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
EducationK-12 #40 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare$2,350/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs$130/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Transportation$2,200/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$17/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Sports betting legal via GambetDC mobile app (DC Lottery). No commercial casinos. Lottery active.
Environment & ClimateAQI 43▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+87 · gun law grade A▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Prohibited where alcohol served on premises; places of worship require permission.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy3% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.5% job growth · 3% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Top healthcare job market
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Below-average union presence (BLS 2025)
Daily Life$3.65/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well above avg (+0.35 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
All consumer fireworks banned — DC law prohibits possession and use of all fireworks
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required for all riders (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks88°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 37°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards13/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits39/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
4.2% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet property tax exemption (up to $445K assessed value)
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
See your full cost of living in District of Columbia
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
DC vs MA
District of Columbia vs Massachusetts
COL 152 vs 148 · 10.75% vs 9% income tax
Full comparison →
DC vs CA
District of Columbia vs California
COL 152 vs 142 · 10.75% vs 13.3% income tax
Full comparison →
DC vs NY
District of Columbia vs New York
COL 152 vs 139 · 10.75% vs 10.9% income tax
Full comparison →
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.