Where Are People Moving in District of Columbia, DC?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
28,622
People moving out
27,315
Net migration
-2,568
District of Columbia, DC is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 28,622 people moved in and 27,315 moved out, for a net loss of -2,568. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving District of Columbia, DC’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to District of Columbia, DC from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Prince George's, MDMaryland | 3,479 | 5,786 |
| Montgomery, MDMaryland | 2,420 | 3,096 |
| Arlington, VAVirginia | 1,789 | 1,991 |
| Fairfax, VAVirginia | 1,177 | 1,483 |
| New York, NYNew York | 750 | 887 |
| Alexandria, VAVirginia | 605 | 753 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 565 | 654 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 522 | 591 |
| Middlesex, MAMassachusetts | 467 | 518 |
| Kings, NYNew York | 454 | 559 |
Top counties people left District of Columbia, DC for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Prince George's, MDMaryland | 4,089 | 6,849 |
| Montgomery, MDMaryland | 3,120 | 5,079 |
| Arlington, VAVirginia | 2,000 | 2,445 |
| Fairfax, VAVirginia | 1,662 | 2,572 |
| Alexandria, VAVirginia | 1,232 | 1,608 |
| New York, NYNew York | 1,210 | 1,324 |
| Kings, NYNew York | 727 | 784 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 563 | 682 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 526 | 595 |
| Baltimore, MDMaryland | 516 | 680 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to District of Columbia, DC or leaving?
District of Columbia, DC had a net loss of -2,568 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 28,622 people moving in and 27,315 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to District of Columbia, DC from?
The largest sources of new District of Columbia, DC residents are Prince George's, MD, Montgomery, MD, Arlington, VA. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving District of Columbia, DC go?
People leaving District of Columbia, DC most often move to Prince George's, MD, Montgomery, MD, Arlington, VA. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does District of Columbia, DC migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside District of Columbia, DC's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this District of Columbia, DC migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.