Quality of life comparison
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of North Carolina, you would:
Health
live 1.9 years longer
In North Carolina, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 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 24.7% less likely to be obese
In North Carolina, 33.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 25.3% of people as of 2022.
be 17.8% less likely to have diabetes
In North Carolina, 10.7% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 8.8% as of 2022.
Economy
make 3.5 times more money
North Carolina has a GDP per capita of $59,308 as of 2024, while in District of Columbia, the GDP per capita is $209,167 as of 2024.
be 88.2% more likely to be unemployed
In North Carolina, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.4% as of 2025.
be 12.4% more likely to live below the poverty line
In North Carolina, 12.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In District of Columbia, however, that number is 13.6% as of 2023.
Safety
be 3.0 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
North Carolina has a violent crime rate of 379 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
North Carolina has a property crime rate of 1,998 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,216 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 52.0% more money
The median household income in North Carolina is $69,904 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $106,287 as of 2023.
pay 2.8 times more for a home
The median home value in North Carolina is $259,400 as of 2023, compared to $724,600 in District of Columbia as of 2023.
pay 63.5% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in North Carolina is $1,162 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $1,900 as of 2023.
be 38.1% less likely to own your home
In North Carolina, 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 41.1% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 65.6% less likely to be uninsured
In North Carolina, 9.6% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 20.5% less likely to smoke
In North Carolina, 14.6% of adults smoke as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 30.2% less likely to be physically inactive
In North Carolina, 22.2% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 15.5% as of 2022.
be 97.3% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In North Carolina, 22.5% 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.
be 35.4% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In North Carolina, 4.8% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.
be 11.6% less likely to be food insecure
In North Carolina, 11.2% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In District of Columbia, that number is 9.9% as of 2021.
commute 5.2 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in North Carolina takes 25.1 minutes as of 2023. In District of Columbia, it takes 30.3 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 4.2 years older on average
The median age in North Carolina is 39.1 years as of 2023. In District of Columbia, the median age is 34.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 50.1 times more densely populated
North Carolina has a population density of 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,322.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, 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.
