[Greater DC]

District of Columbia

District of Columbia seal

Fast Facts:

  • DC was home to 678,972 people and had 367,147 housing units in 2023. Since 2010, DC has added an average of 5,800 people and 5,300 housing units per year.
  • Fifty-nine percent of households were renters and 46 percent of renters had unaffordable housing costs.
  • DC exceeded the annual production target of 4,587 units, with 6,317 new units built in 2024. Cumulatively, DC has produced at least 39,851 units since 2019, exceeding its 6-year target of 27,522.
  • DC adopted the 2030 COG housing targets and established a goal of 36,000 new homes by 2025, 12,000 of which are to be affordable below 80% of DC's median family income.
Sources: Census Population and Housing Unit Estimates, Decennial Census, American Community Survey (2019-23), and the HIT survey of local jurisdictions.
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Policy Status

Solving the region's affordable housing crisis requires a portfolio of policies to preserve existing affordable housing, produce more housing, and protect people from discrimination and displacement.

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Right of First Refusal

  • District of Columbia

Preservation Inventory - Subsidized

  • District of Columbia

Preservation Inventory - Unsubsidized

  • District of Columbia

Rental Assistance Demonstration

  • District of Columbia

Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Homeowners

  • District of Columbia

Energy Efficiency Upgrades of Affordable Housing

  • District of Columbia

Housing Outcomes

Local jurisdictions submitted data to enable the region to track housing production, preservation, and rental affordability.

Amount of Housing

Number of units built by type

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,000Units6,6577,7476,1996,0086,0796,151District of Columbia201920202021202220232024
Multifamily
Single-family

Affordability of Housing

Share of units affordable to households with low incomes

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia19%10%24%19%12%22%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Accessibility of Housing

Share of affordable units in COG Activity Centers or near high-capacity transit

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia99%78%81%86%93%89%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Housing Cost: Lowest
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 0-29.9% of area median

020406080100Share of annual target District ofColumbia31%31%26%34%32%39%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Housing Cost: Low
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 30-49.9% of area median

020406080100120140Share of annual target District ofColumbia130%52%111%74%43%105%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Housing Cost: Low-Middle
Percentage
# of Units

Units built affordable to households with incomes 50-79.9% of area median

020406080100120140Share of annual target District ofColumbia48%41%101%80%53%84%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Building Permits for New Construction

Number of units permitted by type

02,0004,0006,0008,000Units8,2137,2324732,8541,591District of Columbia2021202220232024
Multifamily
Single-family

Affordable Housing in Development

Number of units

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000Units9,9952,9748,5243,2308,3673,2985,4952,469District of Columbia2021202220232024
In the pipeline
Under construction

Affordable Housing Preservation

Number of units preserved as committed affordable by type

05001,0001,5002,000Units162322342District of Columbia202220232024
Units with existing subsidies
Units previously unsubsidized

Structural Racism

Discriminatory actions and racist public policies have produced inequitable outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the Washington region, including lower incomes and wealth, lower homeownership rates, and higher rates of housing cost burden.

Income

Average household income by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

$0$50,000$100,000$150,000$200,000$ District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity$173,200$88,500$148,400$149,500$226,100
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homeownership

Homeownership rate by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity41%35%36%37%48%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white.

Source: American Community Survey

Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations by race and ethnicity, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity3%22%8%15%52%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous or Multiple race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. For mortgages with an applicant and a co-applicant, if they identify the same way they are captured in that category, otherwise if they have different identities they would be included in the Indigenous or Multiple race category.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Credit Denials

Ratio of denial rates for mortgages between white borrowers and borrowers of color, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

00.20.40.60.81Ratio District ofColumbia0.327

Note: If White borrowers and borrowers of Color were denied mortgages at the same rate we would expect to see a ratio equal to 1. Values under 1 indicate that borrowers of Color have higher denial rates than White borrowers.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Rental Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity45%53%44%45%33%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white. Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Owner Housing Cost Burden

Owner households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in housing costs, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity18%29%21%22%15%
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are not mutually exclusive. People identifying as Hispanic may also be represented in other bars except white. Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Housing Context

Understanding how household incomes relate to the supply of affordable rental and homeownership units will inform jurisdictions' efforts to meet the current and future housing needs of residents.

Household Income

Distribution of households by income level relative to the area median income, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia19%10%7%25%21%19%
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Household Income

Change in households by income level relative to the area median income, 2008-12 to 2019-23

-10,000010,00020,000Households District ofColumbiaIncome level-1,370-3,8801,42016,94020,91026,510
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Incomes are in 2023 dollars. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia18%30%19%12%8%13%
$0-$1,099
$1,100-$1,899
$1,900-$2,399
$2,400-$2,899
$2,900-$3,399
$3,400 and higher

Note: Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Change in Renter Housing Supply by Cost

Change in renter housing units by monthly housing cost, 2008-12 to 2019-23

-10,000-5,00005,00010,00015,00020,000Change in Units District ofColumbiaRent level-10,1501,54017,80010,8508,24016,600
$0-$1,099
$1,100-$1,899
$1,900-$2,399
$2,400-$2,899
$2,900-$3,399
$3,400 and higher

Note: Costs are in 2023 dollars. Rental costs include the contractual monthly rent payment plus any additional costs to the tenant for utilities and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Housing Cost Burden

Renter households paying more than 30% of their monthly income in rent, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia46%

Note: Households paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income in housing costs are considered to be cost burdened.

Source: American Community Survey

Deeply Affordable Units

Estimated number of public housing units and vouchers relative to renter households with incomes below 30% of area median, 2019-23

020406080100Per 100 households District ofColumbia58

Note: Estimated number of units and vouchers is for 2024. Vouchers include federally-funded Housing Choice Vouchers and locally-funded vouchers where information was available. Income is for 2019-23 and based on the 2023 HUD Income Limits by family size.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS); HUD Picture of Subsidized Households 2024; and HUD HCVP Power BI Dashboard

Need for Accessible Units

Number of households with one or more people with a disability by income level relative to the area median, 2019-23

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,000Households District ofColumbiaIncome level20,8805,8902,9807,5403,4703,180
Below 30%
30-49.9%
50-79.9%
80-119.9%
120-199.9%
200% and above

Note: Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023. People will a disability includes those with cognitive disabilities, physical or self-care disabilities, ambulatory disabilities, independent living difficulties, vision disabilities, or hearing disabilities.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Homeowner Housing Supply by Cost

Owner housing units by monthly housing cost for a first-time homebuyer, 2019-23

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia5%6%9%7%69%
$0-$1,899
$1,900-$2,399
$2,400-$2,899
$2,900-$3,399
$3,400-$3,899
$3,900 and higher

Note: Costs for owner housing were calculated as the monthly payment for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 90 percent of the market value to the unit, along with estimates of other monthly costs including mortgage insurance, taxes, utilities, and fees.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Affordable Homebuying

Share of mortgage originations to households with moderate incomes and below, 2023

For first-lien owner-occupied home purchases of 1-4 unit dwellings

020406080100Percent District ofColumbia18%22%
0-80% of area median
80-120% of area median income

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Potential Homebuyers

Number of potential homebuyers with low or moderate incomes by race and ethnicity, 2019-23

For renter households with a head of household age 45 years or younger and incomes between 50-120% of AMI

05,00010,00015,00020,000Households District ofColumbiaRace and ethnicity2,60014,6004,4002,00017,100
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
Hispanic/Latinx
Indigenous, Other or Multiple Race
White

Note: Categories are mutually exclusive, borrowers identifying as Hispanic are not also represented in a race category. Income categories reflect HUD Income Limits by household size for 2023. Renter households with a head of household under age 22 were excluded.

Source: American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

Elected Officials

  1. Wendell Felder

    Wendell Felder

    Council Member - Ward 7

  2. Charles  Allen

    Charles Allen

    Council Member - Ward 6

  3. Matthew Frumin

    Matthew Frumin

    Council Member - Ward 3

  4. Christina Henderson

    Christina Henderson

    At-Large Council Member

  5. Janeese Lewis George

    Janeese Lewis George

    Council Member - Ward 4

  6. Brooke Pinto

    Brooke Pinto

    Council Member - Ward 2

  7. Brianne K. Nadeau

    Brianne K. Nadeau

    Council Member - Ward 1

  8. Robert C. White, Jr.

    Robert C. White, Jr.

    At-Large Council Member

  9. Zachary Parker

    Zachary Parker

    Council Member - Ward 5

  10. Muriel Bowser

    Muriel Bowser

    Mayor

  11. Anita Bonds

    Anita Bonds

    At-Large Council Member

  12. Kenyan McDuffie

    Kenyan McDuffie

    Chair Pro Tempore; At-Large Council Member

  13. Phil Mendelson

Equity Officer

  1. Dr. Amber Hewitt

    Dr. Amber Hewitt

    Chief Equity Officer

Housing Officials

  1. Nina Albert

    Nina Albert

    Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

  2. Christopher E. Donald

    Christopher E. Donald

    Executive Director & CEO, DC Housing Finance Agency

  3. Colleen Green

    Colleen Green

    Director, Department of Housing and Community Development

  4. Keith Pettigrew

    Keith Pettigrew

    Chief Executive Officer, DC Housing Authority