State risk detail
Cost of living exposure in District of Columbia
Cost of living exposure focuses on housing costs relative to income. Rising rents, higher monthly housing costs, and elevated rent-to-income ratios can squeeze budgets even when incomes rise.
Risk score
73
/ 100
Risk metrics
- Median gross rent$1,900
- Median home value$724,600
- Median monthly housing costs$2,103
- Rent as % of household income28.5%
- Rent growth (YoY)+4.6%
Data status: Available
Scope: State baseline | Source: ACS 2023 5-year | 2023
Top drivers in this score
Median monthly housing costs
$2,103
Risk pressure percentile: 100
Median home value
$724,600
Risk pressure percentile: 98
Median gross rent
$1,900
Risk pressure percentile: 96
How this compares
Approximate percentile: 73 of 100
Coverage and confidence
City-level metrics were unavailable, so this score falls back to state baseline data.
Why it matters
In District of Columbia, Higher exposure leaves less discretionary income and raises the risk of rent burden or displacement.
What we measure
- Median gross rent
- Median monthly housing costs
- Median home value
- Rent-to-income ratio
- Rent growth (YoY)
Key sources
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year
City comparisons for this risk
City directory →Common questions
Does high cost of living always mean higher risk?
Not necessarily. The risk score weighs costs relative to incomes to capture pressure, not just price levels.
Why include rent growth?
Rapid rent increases can outpace wage growth and squeeze household budgets.
Why include home values if many people rent?
Home values reflect broader housing market costs that influence rents and affordability.
Related risks
State overview →Household financial stress
Household financial stress reflects how close households are to the edge. It blends income, poverty exposure, housing cost burden, and safety-net reliance to show where families have less cushion for unexpected bills.
Debt and credit pressure
Debt and credit pressure tracks how leveraged households are and how often credit stress shows up. Higher subprime share, delinquency, and revolving utilization indicate tighter credit access and greater reliance on borrowing.
Legal and collection risk
Legal and collection risk uses civil court filings per capita and caseload trends to capture the legal environment. Higher civil filing rates can signal more collection activity and a more intense enforcement climate.