U.S. Territory
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
State Profile
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Get notified when District of Columbia tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Taxes
▾
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
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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
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Well above national avg
Property Crime Rate
Above national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the safest
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Top tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Transportation
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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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 & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
▾
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
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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
Daily Life
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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
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 37°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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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 →
Trending in District of Columbia
D.C. workers tell mayor: Your budget betrays us and our communities will pay the price! - American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees · Jul 6
How many subsidized housing units are available in District of Columbia, DC? - USAFacts
USAFacts · Jun 29
Experts evaluate housing pledges in DC mayoral race: ‘A target is not actual policy’ | CoStar News - D.C. Policy Center
D.C. Policy Center · Jun 18
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act Is Proposed in D.C. - Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight · Apr 23
D.C.’s Fiscal Autonomy is at Stake, District’s Conformity Decisions Should Stand - Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy · Feb 6
What Residents Say
Cost of Living in DC : r/washingtondc
For reference, I claim zero on taxes and after pension, tsp, health & dental, and $61/paycheck for FSA, my biweekly take home is $2000. My ......
reddit.com ↗
Major expenses to consider when moving to DC
I am currently looking to move to the area after visiting a few times and running through my budget. The state I currently live in, is sucking out my ......
reddit.com ↗
DC vs Chicago Cost of Living : r/SameGrassButGreener
The average home in Chicago is around 350k and 620k in DC. 500k gets you a home in a nice area of Chicago and a bad area of DC. So YMMV ......
reddit.com ↗
Is it realistic for a family of 3 to live on 65k before tax in DC ...
The title, I am looking for a postdoc, since I'm from NZ my wife could not work, so we would rely on my income. Most postdocs are offering 60-70k before ......
reddit.com ↗
What are some hidden costs of moving to DC that people ...
Asking because I'm a midwesterner possibly moving to DC in January for work. I'm nervous that I'm going to move and get hit with a budget or expense ......
reddit.com ↗
Cost of Living in DC? : r/usajobs
Looking at potentially expanding my job opportunities by applying to jobs in the DC area. Cost of living vs pay is a concern. Am I living in a dream ......
reddit.com ↗
How comfortable can a single person be with $100K salary ...
Hi all! I am considering getting a job with the Federal Government that will require me to move to DC. I would be making a little more than $100K. I wanted ......
reddit.com ↗
Houston to DC cost of living adjustment : r/washingtondc
70k in the H is living very well, dependent upon where you are (The Woodlands vs Katy) is probably comparable to 120ish in DC also dependent on where you live....
reddit.com ↗
People who moved to DC from LCOL areas - how much did ...
Just curious what the price difference on everyday items/services are in LCOL areas compared to DC. Obviously there is a big difference when it comes to ......
reddit.com ↗
Understanding cost of living in Washington DC
I am making around $40ka year with a $780 a month house payment. In the DC area for a similar size house in a less favorable location is somewhere in the $3000 ...
reddit.com ↗
Stay Current
Get notified when District of Columbia tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.