
New York, NY vs Washington, DC
Washington, DC comes out ahead of New York, NY on 27 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 15. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. Washington, DC leads on Economics.
42 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 15
- Avg. percentile
- 35
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 27
- Avg. percentile
- 37
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,546,038 1st of 477 | 698,733 22nd of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $109,870 65th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $737,100 376th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 15.4% 241st of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 108.9 tied 384th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $91,930 tied 24th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $1,954 354th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 746.8 329th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyNew York, NY · 5 statistics
- EconomicsWashington, DC · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3.3 188th of 395 | 16.6 368th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 183.0 193rd of 395 | 650.5 371st of 395 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $109,870 65th of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 41.6% 142nd of 434 | 64.2% 48th of 434 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 110.3 tied 455th of 460 | 104.8 tied 362nd of 460 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,272.9 253rd of 395 | 3,070.2 329th of 395 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 15.4% 241st of 434 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 433rd of 460 | 102.3 tied 371st of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 40.3 432nd of 434 | 30.0 384th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 149.7 129th of 395 | 193.3 172nd of 395 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 108.9 tied 384th of 460 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 127.0 tied 362nd of 460 | 106.7 tied 329th of 460 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 746.8 329th of 395 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $1,954 354th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 90.5% 260th of 434 | 91.2% 241st of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $61,430 tied 50th of 460 | $71,060 tied 30th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $91,930 tied 24th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 148.6 tied 386th of 460 | 151.1 tied 390th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $737,100 376th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, New York, NY or Washington, DC?
- Washington, DC comes out ahead of New York, NY on 27 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 15. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. Washington, DC leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, New York, NY or Washington, DC?
- New York, NY has a population of 8,546,038 (1st of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
- How do New York, NY and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
- How do New York, NY and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
- Where does New York, NY beat Washington, DC most clearly?
- New York, NY ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.3 vs 16.6; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 650.5; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,272.9 vs 3,070.2.
- Where does Washington, DC beat New York, NY most clearly?
- Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $109,870 vs $80,483; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 64.2% vs 41.6%; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.8 vs 110.3.
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