Groundwork

Metro area profile · District of Columbia

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area market data

Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, each scored against other metro areas.

Population, 2025
6,465,724
+3.3% since 2020
Households
2,373,022
Median household income
$126,684
Median home value
$579,900
Jobs located here
3,140,160
Highest market score
86
Pet stores, #6 of 382 scored metro areas

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

An estimated 6,465,724 people live in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, in 2,373,022 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area from 2020 to 2025 at +3.3%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area is $126,684 a year, 57% above the U.S. median of $80,734.

Set against the U.S., households in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area spend the most on pets (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (94).

The highest Groundwork market scores in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area are for pet stores (86), home repair companies (85) and electricians (85). The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area ranks #6 of 382 scored metro areas for pet stores.

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area takes in 23 counties: Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery County, MD; Prince George’s County, MD; District of Columbia; and 19 more. For its number of households, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among metro areas, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among metro areasListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Pet stores86#6 of 3823371.4$8.9M196141
Home repair trades85#4 of 3872,54210.7$3.6M1473,079
Electricians85#4 of 3835152.2$17.7M1471,070
HVAC and plumbing84#6 of 3871,3035.5$7M1471,639
Pest control82#9 of 3453141.3$14.7M144209
Landscaping and lawn care82#12 of 3851,0244.3$4.5M1541,733
Pet businesses81#11 of 3871,9328.1$1.5M1761,196
Roofing and gutters80#8 of 3817243.1$12.6M149370
Veterinarians80#20 of 3847083.0$4.2M155587
Insurance agencies80#35 of 3872,51810.6$2.1M1691,539
Pet grooming and boarding79#11 of 3866422.7$4.6M183468
Home inspectors78#10 of 2431140.5Index only151102
Chiropractors77#17 of 3869824.1$3.5M147518
Coffee shops and cafes77#19 of 3872,3209.8$5.3M1421,268
Lawn, cleaning and pest control76#25 of 3872,0868.8$2.2M1323,700
Gas stations76#28 of 3871,5346.5$4.1M1741,190
Bakeries and dessert shops75#17 of 3872,1929.2$5.6M1341,420
Auto repair and car care75#25 of 3875,96425.1$359K1342,694
Clothing and shoe stores74#41 of 3873,30113.9$1.8M1441,829
Car washes and detailing73#31 of 3875522.3$3.9M154263
Oil change and quick lube72#36 of 290880.4$24.3M177119
Grocery and convenience stores72#45 of 3873,40814.4$5M1481,942
Convenience stores72#51 of 3871,3155.5$13M165766
Restaurants and cafes71#50 of 38725,241106.4$483K13011,776
Laundromats71#54 of 3642581.1$23.4M187205
Funeral homes71#68 of 3772371.0$1.3M187125
Auto repair shops69#58 of 3873,92216.5$546K1231,934
Pizza69#61 of 3871,5816.7$7.7M1525,579
Tire shops69#72 of 3865962.5$3.6M143251
Hair salons68#42 of 3875,21422.0$540K1251,747
Clothing, shoes and laundry68#65 of 3874,89620.6$1.2M1402,585
Fast food and sandwich shops68#82 of 3872,86312.1$4.3M1405,579
Gyms66#59 of 3871,7327.3$1.7M132935
Sit-down restaurants66#74 of 38715,31664.5$796K1204,821
Salons, barbers and spas65#48 of 38710,62244.8$265K1253,335
Spas and skin care64#65 of 3872,52110.6$1.1M128592
Optometrists and eye care64#88 of 3861,0384.4$3.3M106381
Gyms, studios and classes63#76 of 3873,73315.7$796K1201,860
Collision repair and body shops63#107 of 3815742.4$3.7M121459
Grocery stores62#105 of 3871,5066.3$11.3M1221,176
Physical therapy62#105 of 3861,4045.9$2.5M103889
Barbershops59#120 of 3871,1875.0$2.4M126206
Martial arts and dance studios58#110 of 3871,3225.6$2.2M111925
Child care and preschools58#138 of 3871,8047.6$1M1041,849
Nail salons56#138 of 3871,4526.1$1.9M116738
Primary care and pediatrics56#145 of 3871,8237.7$1.9M1074,248
Doctors, dentists and clinics55#153 of 38721,68391.4$160K1059,489
House cleaning54#142 of 3757483.2$6.2M971,758
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios52#149 of 3476792.9$4.4M108935
Mortgage brokers and lenders52#166 of 3731,0804.6Index only107566
Property management51#174 of 3747953.4Index only1021,800
Urgent care and walk-in clinics48#110 of 1972891.2$12M49163
Real estate agents and brokers47#214 of 3878,99537.9Index only922,873
Real estate47#217 of 38710,98446.3Index only956,141
Dry cleaners40#187 of 2724171.8$14.5M93551
Dentists and orthodontists37#304 of 3874,02317.0$860K873,290

Household spending in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$2.1B$90294
Gasoline and other fuels$6.3B$2,675103
Food away from home$12.2B$5,137126
Groceries$17.1B$7,192114
Personal care products and services$2.8B$1,187118
Child care and other personal services$1.9B$789136
Memberships, classes and admissions$3B$1,252127
Medical and dental services$3.5B$1,459113
Pets$3B$1,258138
Clothing, shoes and related services$6B$2,548124
Vehicle insurance$5.3B$2,251115
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$9.1B$3,834127
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$4.6B$1,946138
Rent and homeowner costs$45.2B$19,065114

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area

Population, 2025 estimate
6,465,724+3.3% since 2020
Households
2,373,022
Median age
39.3
Homes lived in by their owners
64%
Vehicles per household
1.7
Land area
6,034 sq. mi.
People per square mile
1,047
Median household income
$126,684
Average household income
$166,652
Median home value
$579,900
Jobs located here
3,140,160
Daytime population
6,505,668Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area?

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Counties in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area 23

Questions

How fast is the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area growing?

Population estimates put the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area at 6,465,724 people in 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 2,373,022 households.

How much do households in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area spend?

Households in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area spend about $45.2B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $17.1B on groceries and $12.2B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area runs highest on pets (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (94).

Which business types have the highest market scores in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area?

Of the business types scored in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, pet stores (86), home repair companies (85) and electricians (85) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet stores, that ranks #6 of 382 scored metro areas.

How does the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area compare with the U.S.?

Median household income in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area is $126,684, 57% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $579,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.