Unemployment in the District of Columbia is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties
In the District of Columbia, 6.1% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives the District of Columbia's score
In the District of Columbia, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 82.8. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 26.8% of the typical household's income (fiscal year 2027), higher than in 90% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 62.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in the District of Columbia: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
The District of Columbia does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($109,289, 2024) and people without health insurance (3.6%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 82.8 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.8% · fiscal year 202790th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.5% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
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- 62.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.6% · August 202590th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.7% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.8% · second quarter of 202641st percentile
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- 57.1 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.8% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average6.1% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202693rd percentile
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- 35.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.7% · August 202544th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people80.4 · 202525th percentile
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- 35.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line25.0% · 202482nd percentile
- People with a disability11.5% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$109,289 · 20243rd percentile
- People below the poverty line16.4% · 202472nd percentile
- People without health insurance3.6% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in the District of Columbia comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In the District of Columbia, 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
The District of Columbia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In the District of Columbia, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 12.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about five times as much as benefit checks
In the District of Columbia, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 12.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in the District of Columbia getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 13.5% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2020.
The share of households in the District of Columbia getting SNAP food aid rose from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14.3%
High on the chart: 15.0% in 2016. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, The District of Columbia.
How the District of Columbia has changed
The District of Columbia's population had its largest drop, from 720,755 in 1974 to 655,616 in 1979.
The District of Columbia's population fell 8% from 1969 to 2024, with its low point on the chart in 2004
Low on the chart: 567,754 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, The District of Columbia.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in the District of Columbia rose 14% from 1990 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2010 and 2015
High on the chart: 759,572 in 2024. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2024, The District of Columbia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.0% | 2025 6.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.0% | 2024 16.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,322 | 2024 $109,289 |
The table uses 6.3% for 2025; the score uses 6.1% for the latest 12 months (Sep 2025 to Aug 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in the District of Columbia's history
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 802,178. The 2020 Census counted 689,545, 86% of the peak. Census Bureau
1993
A thunderstorm in May 1993 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2002
A thunderstorm in August 2002 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
Lightning in August 2022 killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
A thunderstorm in July 2023 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1989
23 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered the District of Columbia, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
The District of Columbia beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border the District of Columbia, in District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, the District of Columbia ranks 2nd of the five; Prince George's County is highest, at 17.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 78 | 10.4% | 17.8% |
| District of Columbia, DC | 56 | 16.4% | 12.6% |
| Alexandria city, VA | 20 | 7.5% | 7.6% |
| Montgomery County, MD | 18 | 7.5% | 9.7% |
| Arlington County, VA | 4 | 8.0% | 5.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
The District of Columbia: a common question
What is the poverty rate in the District of Columbia?
16.4% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in six people. Among children it was 25.0%.
If you're behind on your mortgage in the District of Columbia
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Carecen-central American Resource Center
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF)-DC
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Greater Washington Urban League
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid DC
Legal aid
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DC Bar Pro Bono Center
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,011 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for the District of Columbia · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- Two-bedroom rent and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in the District of Columbia comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.