Polygons in this layer represent low food access areas: areas of the District of Columbia which are estimated to be more than a 10-minute walk from the nearest full-service grocery store. These have been merged with Census poverty data to estimate how much of the population within these areas is food insecure (below 185% of the federal poverty line in addition to living in a low food access area).Office of Planning GIS followed several steps to create this layer, including: transit analysis, to eliminate areas of the District within a 10-minute walk of a grocery store; non-residential analysis, to eliminate areas of the District which do not contain residents and cannot classify as low food access areas (such as parks and the National Mall); and Census tract division, to estimate population and poverty rates within the newly created polygon boundaries.Fields contained in this layer include:Intermediary calculation fields for the aforementioned analysis, and:PartPop2: The total population estimated to live within the low food access area polygon (derived from Census tract population, assuming even distribution across the polygon after removing non-residential areas, followed by the removal of population living within a grocery store radius.)PrtOver185: The portion of PartPop2 which is estimated to have household income above 185% of the federal poverty line (the food secure population)PrtUnd185: The portion of PartPop2 which is estimated to have household income below 185% of the federal poverty line (the food insecure population)PercentUnd185: A calculated field showing PrtUnd185 as a percent of PartPop2. This is the percent of the population in the polygon which is food insecure (both living in a low food access area and below 185% of the federal poverty line).Note that the polygon representing Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling was removed from this analysis. While technically classifying as a low food access area based on the OP Grocery Stores layer (since the JBAB Commissary, which only serves military members, is not included in that layer), it is recognized that those who do live on the base have access to the commissary for grocery needs.Last updated November 2017.

D.C.'s median rent for a one bedroom apartment stands at $2,495, significantly higher than the national median rent of approximately $1,567. Click on different U.S. cities to see the median rent for a one bedroom apartment2.The map on the left side shows the percentage of people by census tract that are considered "cost burdened" by housing costs, by paying 30% or more of their household income on rent and utilities3. The map on the right side shows the median household income by census tract4. You can click on the "list" icon in the lower left corner to see the map legend, and meanings of map symbology. Areas that are cost burdened are often areas with the lowest median household incomes. There are also areas in wards where median incomes are high, but the cost of living is also high, leading to a greater cost burden.

In 2022, San Francisco had the highest median household income of cities ranking within the top 25 in terms of population, with a median household income in of 136,692 U.S. dollars. In that year, San Jose in California was ranked second, and Seattle, Washington third.

Following a fall after the great recession, median household income in the United States has been increasing in recent years. As of 2022, median household income by state was highest in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Utah, and Massachusetts. It was lowest in Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas. Families with an annual income of 25,000 and 49,999 U.S. dollars made up the largest income bracket in America, with about 25.26 million households.

Data on median household income can be compared to statistics on personal income in the U.S. released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal income rose to around 21.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022, the highest value recorded. Personal income is a measure of the total income received by persons from all sources, while median household income is “the amount with divides the income distribution into two equal groups,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Half of the population in question lives above median income and half lives below. Though total personal income has increased in recent years, this wealth is not distributed throughout the population. In practical terms, income of most households has decreased. One additional statistic illustrates this disparity: for the lowest quintile of workers, mean household income has remained more or less steady for the past decade at about 13 to 16 thousand constant U.S. dollars annually. Meanwhile, income for the top five percent of workers has actually risen from about 285,000 U.S. dollars in 1990 to about 499,900 U.S. dollars in 2020.

This layer shows median household income by race and by age of householder. This is shown by tract, county, and state boundaries. This service is updated annually to contain the most currently released American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, and contains estimates and margins of error. There are also additional calculated attributes related to this topic, which can be mapped or used within analysis. Median income and income source is based on income in past 12 months of survey. This layer is symbolized to show median household income. To see the full list of attributes available in this service, go to the "Data" tab, and choose "Fields" at the top right. Current Vintage: 2015-2019ACS Table(s): B19013B, B19013C, B19013D, B19013E, B19013F, B19013G, B19013H, B19013I, B19049, B19053Data downloaded from: Census Bureau's API for American Community Survey Date of API call: December 10, 2020National Figures: data.census.govThe United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS):About the SurveyGeography & ACSTechnical DocumentationNews & UpdatesThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. Data can also be exported for offline workflows. Please cite the Census and ACS when using this data.Data Note from the Census:Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables.Data Processing Notes:This layer is updated automatically when the most current vintage of ACS data is released each year, usually in December. The layer always contains the latest available ACS 5-year estimates. It is updated annually within days of the Census Bureau's release schedule. Click here to learn more about ACS data releases.Boundaries come from the US Census TIGER geodatabases. Boundaries are updated at the same time as the data updates (annually), and the boundary vintage appropriately matches the data vintage as specified by the Census. These are Census boundaries with water and/or coastlines clipped for cartographic purposes. For census tracts, the water cutouts are derived from a subset of the 2010 AWATER (Area Water) boundaries offered by TIGER. For state and county boundaries, the water and coastlines are derived from the coastlines of the 500k TIGER Cartographic Boundary Shapefiles. The original AWATER and ALAND fields are still available as attributes within the data table (units are square meters). The States layer contains 52 records - all US states, Washington D.C., and Puerto RicoCensus tracts with no population that occur in areas of water, such as oceans, are removed from this data service (Census Tracts beginning with 99).Percentages and derived counts, and associated margins of error, are calculated values (that can be identified by the "_calc_" stub in the field name), and abide by the specifications defined by the American Community Survey.Field alias names were created based on the Table Shells file available from the American Community Survey Summary File Documentation page.Negative values (e.g., -4444...) have been set to null, with the exception of -5555... which has been set to zero. These negative values exist in the raw API data to indicate the following situations:The margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution.The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution, or in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.The estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.The data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.

The DC Housing Authority provides quality affordable housing to extremely low- through moderate-income households, fosters sustainable communities, and cultivates opportunities for residents to improve their lives. The following is a subset of the District Government Land (Owned, Operated, and or managed) dataset that include buildings with a "public housing" use type.

This map compares the number of people living above the poverty line to the number of people living below. Why do this?There are people living below the poverty line everywhere. Nearly every area of the country has a balance of people living above the poverty line and people living below it. There is not an "ideal" balance, so this map makes good use of the national ratio of 6 persons living above the poverty line for every 1 person living below it. Please consider that there is constant movement of people above and below the poverty threshold, as they gain better employment or lose a job; as they encounter a new family situation, natural disaster, health issue, major accident or other crisis. There are areas that suffer chronic poverty year after year. This map does not indicate how long people in the area have been below the poverty line. "The poverty rate is one of several socioeconomic indicators used by policy makers to evaluate economic conditions. It measures the percentage of people whose income fell below the poverty threshold. Federal and state governments use such estimates to allocate funds to local communities. Local communities use these estimates to identify the number of individuals or families eligible for various programs." Source: U.S. Census BureauIn the U.S. overall, there are 6 people living above the poverty line for every 1 household living below. Green areas on the map have a higher than normal number of people living above compared to below poverty. Orange areas on the map have a higher than normal number of people living below the poverty line compared to those above in that same area.The map shows the ratio for counties and census tracts, using these layers, created directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS)For comparison, an older layer using 2013 ACS data is also provided.The layers are updated annually to contain the most currently released American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, and contains estimates and margins of error. There are also additional calculated attributes related to this topic, which can be mapped or used within analysis. Poverty status is based on income in past 12 months of survey. Current Vintage: 2014-2018ACS Table(s): B17020Data downloaded from: Census Bureau's API for American Community Survey National Figures: data.census.govThe United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS):About the SurveyGeography & ACSTechnical DocumentationNews & UpdatesThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. Data can also be exported for offline workflows. Please cite the Census and ACS when using this data.Data Note from the Census:Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables.Data Processing Notes:This layer is updated automatically when the most current vintage of ACS data is released each year, usually in December. The layer always contains the latest available ACS 5-year estimates. It is updated annually within days of the Census Bureau's release schedule. Click here to learn more about ACS data releases.Boundaries come from the US Census TIGER geodatabases. Boundaries are updated at the same time as the data updates (annually), and the boundary vintage appropriately matches the data vintage as specified by the Census. These are Census boundaries with water and/or coastlines clipped for cartographic purposes. For census tracts, the water cutouts are derived from a subset of the 2010 AWATER (Area Water) boundaries offered by TIGER. For state and county boundaries, the water and coastlines are derived from the coastlines of the 500k TIGER Cartographic Boundary Shapefiles. The original AWATER and ALAND fields are still available as attributes within the data table (units are square meters). The States layer contains 52 records - all US states, Washington D.C., and Puerto RicoCensus tracts with no population that occur in areas of water, such as oceans, are removed from this data service (Census Tracts beginning with 99).Percentages and derived counts, and associated margins of error, are calculated values (that can be identified by the "_calc_" stub in the field name), and abide by the specifications defined by the American Community Survey.Field alias names were created based on the Table Shells file available from the American Community Survey Summary File Documentation page.Negative values (e.g., -555555...) have been set to null. These negative values exist in the raw API data to indicate the following situations:The margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution.The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution, or in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.The estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.The data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small. NOTE: any calculated percentages or counts that contain estimates that have null margins of error yield null margins of error for the calculated fields.

ACS 1-year estimates are based on data collected over one calendar year, offering more current information but with a higher margin of error. ACS 5-year estimates combine five years of data, providing more reliable information but less current. Both are based on probability samples. Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30%.

Data Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 1- & 5-Year Estimates

Why This Matters

Poverty threatens the overall well-being of individuals and families, limiting access to stable housing, healthy foods, health care, and educational and employment opportunities, among other basic needs.Poverty is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including chronic physical and mental illness, lower life expectancy, developmental delays, and others.

Racist policies and practices have contributed to racial economic inequities. Nationally, Black, Indigenous, and people of color experience poverty at higher rates than white Americans, on average.

The District's Response

Boosting assistance programs that provide temporary cash and health benefits to help low-income residents meet their basic needs, including Medicaid, TANF For District Families, SNAP, etc.

Housing assistance and employment and career training programs to support resident’s housing and employment security. These include the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers, Career MAP, the DC Infrastructure Academy, among other programs and services.

Creation of the DC Commission on Poverty to study poverty issues, evaluate poverty reduction initiatives, and make recommendations to the Mayor and the Council.

Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: 1990=100: Housing & Furnishing (HF): Shelter data was reported at 127.100 1990=100 in Dec 1998. This stayed constant from the previous number of 127.100 1990=100 for Nov 1998. Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: 1990=100: Housing & Furnishing (HF): Shelter data is updated monthly, averaging 111.400 1990=100 from Jan 1990 (Median) to Dec 1998, with 108 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127.100 1990=100 in Dec 1998 and a record low of 98.300 1990=100 in Jan 1990. Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: 1990=100: Housing & Furnishing (HF): Shelter data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Trade and Economic Indices. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.I043: Consumer Price Index: 1990=100: Low Income .

Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: BK: 1990=100: Housing and Furnishing (HF) data was reported at 130.000 1990=100 in Dec 1998. This records a decrease from the previous number of 130.400 1990=100 for Nov 1998. Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: BK: 1990=100: Housing and Furnishing (HF) data is updated monthly, averaging 110.400 1990=100 from Jan 1990 (Median) to Dec 1998, with 108 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 130.400 1990=100 in Nov 1998 and a record low of 98.600 1990=100 in Jan 1990. Thailand (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Low Income: BK: 1990=100: Housing and Furnishing (HF) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Trade and Economic Indices. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.I044: Consumer Price Index: 1990=100: Low Income: Bangkok Metropolis .

The Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool was created by the Better Building's Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) to help state and local partners understand housing and energy characteristics for the low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities they serve. The LEAD Tool provides estimated LMI household energy data based on income, energy expenditures, fuel type, housing type, and geography, which stakeholders can use to make data-driven decisions when planning for their energy goals. From the LEAD Tool website, users can also create and download customized heat-maps and charts for various geographies, housing, and energy characteristics.

Datasets are available for 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., along with their cities, counties, and census tracts. The file below, "1. Description of Files," provides a list of all files included in this dataset. A description of the abbreviations and units used in the LEAD Tool data can be found in the file below titled "2. Data Dictionary 2018". The Low-Income Energy Affordability Data comes primarily from the 2018 U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year Public Use Microdata Samples and is calibrated to 2018 U.S. Energy Information Administration electric utility (Survey Form-861) and natural gas utility (Survey Form-176) data. The methodology for the LEAD Tool can viewed below (3. Methodology Document).

For more information, and to access the interactive LEAD Tool platform, please visit the "4. LEAD Tool Platform" resource link below.

For more information on the Better Building's Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA), please visit the "5. CELICA Website" resource below.

2020 data points are the average of 2019 and 2021 data points and are included solely to maintain chart continuity. The U.S. Census Bureau did not release 2020 ACS 1-year estimates due to COVID-19. These figures should not be interpreted as an actual estimate for 2020. Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30%.

Data Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

Why This Matters Housing is a basic necessity, and affordable housing is essential for individuals and families to live and thrive in DC.The rising cost of housing threatens residents’ access to safe and stable housing as well as their ability to cover other essential expenses like food, transportation, and childcare.Racial segregation, housing discrimination, and racist urban renewal programs, among other policies and practices, have meant that Black residents and residents of color in the District disproportionately experience the effects of rapidly rising housing costs. The District's Response Leading the nation in policies and investments for low-income rental households. Target of 12,000 new affordable housing units by 2025. Steps taken to preserve and expand affordable housing include the Housing Production Trust Fund, the Affordable Housing Preservation Fund, and the Home Purchasing Assistance Program, among others.

Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: Home Expenses data was reported at 22.400 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 22.400 % for 2017. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: Home Expenses data is updated yearly, averaging 22.400 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2018, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.400 % in 2018 and a record low of 22.400 % in 2018. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: Home Expenses data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.I019: Consumer Price Index: by Commodity Groups: COICOP: Dec2008=100: Weights.

Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: House Appliances data was reported at 0.430 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.430 % for 2017. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: House Appliances data is updated yearly, averaging 0.430 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2018, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.430 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.430 % in 2018. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: High Income: Housing: House Appliances data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.I019: Consumer Price Index: by Commodity Groups: COICOP: Dec2008=100: Weights.

Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Mid Income: Housing: House Appliances data was reported at 0.510 % in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.510 % for 2017. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Mid Income: Housing: House Appliances data is updated yearly, averaging 0.510 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2018, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.510 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.510 % in 2018. Colombia (DC)Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Mid Income: Housing: House Appliances data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.I019: Consumer Price Index: by Commodity Groups: COICOP: Dec2008=100: Weights.

（停止更新）居民消费价格指数：低收入：1990=100：住房和装修（HF）：住所在12-01-1998达127.1001990=100，相较于11-01-1998的127.1001990=100保持不变。（停止更新）居民消费价格指数：低收入：1990=100：住房和装修（HF）：住所数据按月更新，01-01-1990至12-01-1998期间平均值为111.4001990=100，共108份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1998，达127.1001990=100，而历史最低值则出现于01-01-1990，为98.3001990=100。CEIC提供的（停止更新）居民消费价格指数：低收入：1990=100：住房和装修（HF）：住所数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于สำนักดัชนีเศรษฐกิจการค้า，数据归类于Global Database的泰国 – 表 TH.I043：居民消费价格指数：1990=100：低收入。