District of Columbia
For Americans thinking of retiring to District of Columbia from another state, or comparing it with a move abroad. Prices in District of Columbia run at 109.9 against a US average of 100, with housing at 155. We cover District of Columbia's 1 county-equivalent on the map below, each with a page of its own, and no town in depth yet.
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5), 2024-12-31
District of Columbia is not compared with a town — compare two towns instead. Why?
District of Columbia, a state of the United States, is not the same kind of thing as a town: it spans many counties and very different places. Putting a state-wide average beside one town's own figures produces a number that looks like an answer and describes nothing a person would experience — so the engine refuses that pairing rather than rendering it thinly. A town against another town, here or abroad, is like-for-like. Build a comparison →
Research in progress. Our quality assessment of the official sources for the United States is not finished yet. Every figure published here is sourced and dated.
District of Columbia's 1 county-equivalent
Every county in District of Columbia on its own figures, against every US county that has the same figure. Pick a county on the map or in the list.
- Lowest fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Highest fifth (darker = a larger share 65+)
- No figure
- At least one hospital rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- None in the county
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = cheaper)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = more)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
Outlines: US Census Bureau, cartographic boundary files (2024). A fifth is among every US county holding the figure, so a color means the same thing in every state.
All 1 county-equivalent, with their figures
-
District of Columbia
693,645 residents, 94,423 aged 65 or older (13.6 %)
- Cost of living
- 108.9 Cheaper than 1 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $2,557 Lower than 65 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- 29.0 per 100,000 a year Lower than 4 % of the other 767 US counties
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $0.43 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 100 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $6,142 · Original + drug plan USD $5,748 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Washington (Census, 1 July 2024).
District of Columbia page →
Sources: US Census Bureau, county population estimates by age, 1 July 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, all items, of each county's metropolitan area or its state's nonmetropolitan portion; The state's published 2025 income-tax rules, the county's own local income tax where one is levied, and the county's Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household; CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026; CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by county of residence; CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al.; FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB); CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025).
Where District of Columbia stands, on the six criteria
District of Columbia's six figures are the ones that set its place on the state ranking, where it sits in Tier 3 of 16. Each is measured for the whole of District of Columbia, not for any single place within it.
| Criterion | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Cost of living BEA price level, all items (US = 100); lower is better |
109.9 Cheaper than 4% of the other 50 · housing 155.0 · goods 106.5 · utilities 112.8 · other services 103.0
BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5) · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-08-28
|
| Taxes on a retired couple state and local tax on the example retired couple, USD a year; lower is better |
USD $2,557 (90% margin USD $2,502–$2,612) Lower than 68% of the other 50
Each state's published 2025 income-tax rules and the Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household · figure for 2025
|
| Healthcare access share of residents 65+ living in a county with a 4- or 5-star CMS hospital; higher is better |
100 % of residents 65+ Higher than 100% of the other 50
CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026, weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Safety homicides per 100,000 a year, 2020–2024, by state of residence; lower is better |
29.0 per 100,000 a year (95% interval 27.2–30.8) Lower than 0% of the other 50
CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by state of residence · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Climate months a year whose mean daily high is 18–29 °C (64–84 °F), 1981–2010; more is better |
5.0 months a year More than 72% of the other 50
CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al., weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2010 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Natural-hazard risk expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, per USD $1,000 of buildings; lower is better |
USD $0.43 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 100% of the other 50
FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), state expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB) · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-10-27
|
Medicare in District of Columbia
For the published example couple, both 67 and married: what Medicare premiums cost a year for two in District of Columbia, and the most a bad year can cost. What care itself costs depends on a person's health, so it is not estimated here.
Medicare Advantage, with drug coverage
USD $6,142 a year for two in premiums (from USD $4,870)
At most USD $20,444 in a bad year (from USD $19,170), with each person's in-network out-of-pocket maximum
The middle of the 8 plans offered here; "from" is the lowest premium among them.
Original Medicare, with a drug plan
USD $5,748 a year for two in premiums (from USD $4,997)
Medigap: no federal price list — not in this total.
No yearly maximum on Original Medicare alone.
Part B for two, plus the middle of the 9 standalone drug plans offered in the state.
The middle of District of Columbia's 1 counties, weighted by residents 65 or older (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025).
The 2027 Part B premium is not yet published (CMS usually publishes it in November); 2026's is used.
Source: CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025).
District of Columbia's Medigap enrollment rule is not yet confirmed from District of Columbia's own insurance department.
Free, official Medicare counseling in District of Columbia: DC State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), 202-727-8370 (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program).
Retiring to District of Columbia: pros and cons, by the figures
Retiring to District of Columbia, judged on the six figures above: a pro is a figure in the top fifth of the states, a con one in the bottom fifth. Figures in between get no verdict.
Pros
- Healthcare access: higher than 100% of the other 50 (100 % of residents 65+). CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026, weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025)
- Natural-hazard risk: lower than 100% of the other 50 (USD $0.43 per USD $1,000 of buildings). FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), state expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB)
Cons
- Cost of living: dearer than 96% of the other 50 (109.9). BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5)
- Safety: higher than 100% of the other 50 (29.0 per 100,000 a year). CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by state of residence
Also shown, not scored
District of Columbia's other state-wide figures: shown for context, not part of its tier. Measured for the whole of District of Columbia — not for any single place within it.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
|
Population
Total resident population, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredTotal resident population, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. Bigger is not better — this axis exists for context, never for ranking. |
693,645 people |
|
Population 65 plus
Residents aged 65 or older, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredResident population aged 65 or older, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. |
94,423 people |
|
Social security beneficiary share
Everyone receiving Social Security — retired, disabled, survivors and dependants — as a share of the population, 2025.
How this is measuredAll OASDI beneficiaries — retired workers, disabled workers, survivors and dependants — as a percentage of the total resident population. SSA Table 1 (2025), population as of 1 July 2025. Not the same measure as the county-level retired-worker share. |
12.7 percent |
Source for every figure: SSA Table 1 (2025) · Census population as of 1 July 2025 · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-08-28 Official source
Taxes on a retired couple in District of Columbia
We apply District of Columbia's published rules for tax year 2025 to one example household and show the sum, line by line. These are rules already in force for 2025, not a projection.
The example household
| Filing status | married filing jointly, both aged 67 |
|---|---|
| Social Security | USD $45,000 a year, combined |
| Private pension | USD $25,000 a year |
| IRA or 401(k) withdrawal | USD $20,000 a year |
| Home, for property tax | USD $350,000 |
An illustrative household, the same for every state so states can be compared. Each spouse holds half of each income. Your own figures will differ.
District of Columbia's rules applied
| Social Security taxable federally (IRC §86) IRS Publication 915, Social Security benefits worksheet (IRC §86) | USD $25,975 |
|---|---|
| Federal adjusted gross income IRS Publication 915, Social Security benefits worksheet (IRC §86) | USD $70,975 |
| Taxable Social Security subtracted (Schedule I line 10) DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | − USD $25,975 |
| State adjusted gross income DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | USD $45,000 |
| Standard deduction, married filing jointly DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | − USD $30,000 |
| Additional standard deduction, 65 or older (USD $1,600 each) DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | − USD $3,200 |
| Taxable income DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | USD $11,800 |
| Tax at the 2025 rates DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | USD $510 |
| State income tax DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet | USD $510 |
| Property tax on a USD $350,000 home, at the state's median taxes paid ÷ median home value US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25103 | USD $2,047 |
| State and local tax, a year | USD $2,557 |
Federal income tax is left out: it is the same in every state, so it cannot separate them. Sales tax is left out too: it depends on what a household buys, and no state publishes an average of its local rates. The rate is listed below.
The rules behind the sum
- Top income-tax rate: 10.75 % DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Taxable Social Security subtracted (Schedule I line 10): 100 % of it DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Standard deduction, married filing jointly: USD $30,000 DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Additional standard deduction, 65 or older (USD $1,600 each): USD $1,600 per person, from age 65 DC Office of Tax and Revenue, 2025 D-40 Booklet · checked Oct 26, 2026
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