Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
West Virginia vs District of Columbia
West Virginia and District of Columbia compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. District of Columbia leads in 8 of the comparable categories.
5
West Virginia wins
8
District of Columbia wins
| Metric | West Virginia | District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,784,462 | 672,079 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 34.9 |
| Median Household Income | $57,917 | $106,287 |
| Per Capita Income | $32,949 | $75,253 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.9% | 10.7% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 4.6% |
| Median Home Value | $155,600 | $724,600 |
| Median Rent | $850 | $1,900 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.3% | 41.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 23.3% | 63.6% |
| High School+ | 88.6% | 92.8% |
| Work From Home | 8.0% | 29.4% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 26.6 | 30.3 |
| White | 90.9% | 39.1% |
| Hispanic | 1.1% | 1.6% |
| Black | 3.3% | 43.3% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 29.8% | 49.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia has a population of 1,784,462 compared to District of Columbia's 672,079.
Across the metrics compared, West Virginia leads in 5 categories while District of Columbia leads in 8. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
Comparing West Virginia and District of Columbia on U.S. population demographics requires lining up the underlying the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.