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
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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
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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
DC vs Chicago Cost of Living : r/SameGrassButGreener
The property taxes are also extremely high vs in DC. is around 350k and 620k in DC. Illinois property taxes are higher cheaper for most people....
reddit.com ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
DC vs MD vs VA apartments : r/washingtondc
average total tax burden between DC, MD, and VA is minimal, in the neighborhood of $1,000/yr in either. Under $75K DC is the cheapest and ......
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 ↗
How much were you making when you first started living ...
My annual income is just at the edge of the “can technically afford to live alone in DC” range, and I’m wondering if it’s something that would ......
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.