The typical owner-occupied home in District of Columbia is worth about $737,100, 2.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,312 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of their home's value, lower than the national rate of 0.94%. The median household earns $109,870 a year, so the median home costs 6.7 times the median income (4.1 times for the U.S.). 42% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 76% of those owners still have a mortgage.
District of Columbia at a glance
| District of Columbia | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $737,100 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,312 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.58% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $109,870 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 42% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 76% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,128 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,954 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.6% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1958 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.1% | 10.1% |
| Population | 681,294 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in District of Columbia
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median District of Columbia home of $737,100 with 20% down costs about $4,630 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,858, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $198,438 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 51% of the median District of Columbia household income of $109,870; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $408,000.
The median rent here is $1,954 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,676 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $147,420 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $589,680 |
| Principal and interest | $3,967 |
| Property taxes (0.58% a year) | $356 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $307 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,630 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $25,798 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $723,749 |
| Principal and interest | $4,869 |
| Property taxes (0.58% a year) | $356 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $307 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $326 |
| Total per month | $5,858 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in District of Columbia
What is the median home value in District of Columbia?
About $737,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in District of Columbia?
Homeowners pay a median $4,312 a year, which is about 0.58% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in District of Columbia?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,630 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $198,438 a year.
More about District of Columbia
- Mortgage Refinance in District of Columbia
- Debt Relief in District of Columbia
- Home Equity Loans in District of Columbia
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data