News & Politics

Who Moves to DC? Young, Well-Educated Single Women

The District’s population has surged since 2009, with more than than 1,000 people on average moving here per month. DC’s growth is part of a larger urban renaissance with many US cities booming, and the influx of new residents has reshaped the look and feel of urban environments. The quick explanation is often that DC—like many cities—is being overrun by millennials with high-income jobs, lured by new luxury apartments and bike lanes. The actual demographics are a bit more complex. Just who are DC’s new residents, and how do they differ from those moving to other major US cities?

Check out the interactive chart below to see the demographics of the District’s newest residents, and how that compares to other major US cities. Select a button to change the view and hover over a bar to see the exact percentage.

Trouble viewing this chart? Click here to see it on DataLensDC.

Nearly 53 percent of new DC residents are women while other cities have more even gender splits or skew male. The District also attracts a young crowd. Nearly half of new Washingtonians are in their 20s, second only to university town Boston. Unlike Boston, new DC residents tend to be wealthier. They have the second-highest rate of income over $75,000 in the past year, behind San Francisco. DC ranks third behind both cities for highly educated newcomers, unsurprising for such a city of book worms. With fewer than 20 percent of new DC residents married, this all makes for an active and interesting dating scene.