Quality of life comparison
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of Maryland, you would:
Health
live 1.2 years longer
In Maryland, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In District of Columbia, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2019.
be 24.3% less likely to be obese
In Maryland, 33.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 25.3% of people as of 2022.
be 18.5% less likely to have diabetes
In Maryland, 10.8% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 8.8% as of 2022.
Economy
make 3.0 times more money
Maryland has a GDP per capita of $69,127 as of 2024, while in District of Columbia, the GDP per capita is $209,167 as of 2024.
be 73.0% more likely to be unemployed
In Maryland, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.4% as of 2025.
be 51.1% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Maryland, 9.0% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In District of Columbia, however, that number is 13.6% as of 2023.
Safety
be 2.7 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Maryland has a violent crime rate of 420 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 1,126 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 2.1 times more likely to be a victim of property crime
Maryland has a property crime rate of 2,043 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,216 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 82.2% more for a home
The median home value in Maryland is $397,700 as of 2023, compared to $724,600 in District of Columbia as of 2023.
pay 14.3% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Maryland is $1,662 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $1,900 as of 2023.
be 39.1% less likely to own your home
In Maryland, 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 41.1% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 45.0% less likely to be uninsured
In Maryland, 6.0% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 28.9% less likely to be physically inactive
In Maryland, 21.8% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 15.5% as of 2022.
be 52.6% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Maryland, 29.1% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 44.4% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 4.4 years older on average
The median age in Maryland is 39.3 years as of 2023. In District of Columbia, the median age is 34.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 17.6 times more densely populated
Maryland has a population density of 245.6 people per sq km as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,322.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 11.0% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Maryland, 7.3% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
