Photo: Ralf Roletschek - Infos über Fahrräder auf fahrradmonteur.de Wikis in der Ausbildung · CC BY-SA 3.0Washington spent more per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar big cities
Washington’s city government spent $17.2 billion on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $25,670 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($248.4 million) and water utilities ($263.4 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.
What stands out about how Washington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $25,670 per resident a year, or $70.33 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: health & welfare, at 37%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Washington runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools.
$23,399 per resident in 2022: more than 100% of them
Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($23,399 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 28 U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools: the median was $5,222, and the middle half spent $4,328–$5,900. Washington spent more than 100% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($361.2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Washington itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 3% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Washington reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $23,399 · 2023: $24,118 · 2024: $25,670. Per resident it went from $23,399 to $25,670 (up 10%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 712,816 to 671,803.
full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 31,334 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,312 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.58% across District of Columbia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Washington’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Washington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Washington →
Who’s in charge in Washington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time city employee for every 20 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (671,803).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
District of Columbia Public Schools
Washington’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Washington, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $31,529 per pupil, $15,764 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
District of Columbia districts overall: 86% local, 0% state, 14% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Washington voted in 2024
Official results for Washington’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat90.3%294,185 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican6.5%21,076 votesOthers: 3.3% (10,608 votes).
Most votes in Washington: Kamala D Harris
District of Columbia: Harris 90.3%, Trump 6.5% · District of Columbia: Harris 90.3%, Trump 6.5%
of Washington’s 506,637 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across District of Columbia: 64%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
President, 2024: Washington, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 90.3% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 325,869 |
| District of Columbia | 90.3% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 325,869 |
| District of Columbia | 90.3% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 325,869 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Washington.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: dc.gov ↗
- 2District of Columbia SenateState senator
- 3GovernorStatewide
- 4U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Washington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Washington’s government
How much does Washington spend per resident?
About $25,670 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. Washington also runs a hospital ($248.4 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $23,399 was more than 100% of 28 U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Washington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,312 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.58% across District of Columbia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see dc.gov.
Who runs Washington’s government?
See dc.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Washington yet.
How did Washington vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 90.3%, Donald J Trump 6.5% (325,869 votes, official results). District of Columbia: Harris 90.3%, Trump 6.5%.
How many people work for Washington?
33,411 full-time and 2,745 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 5,235 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $374.3M (about $4.5B a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Washington in the state legislature?
Washington is split among 8 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The District of Columbia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Washington’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →