Rankings · How Washington ranks in DC
Washington isn’t ranked, but the towns around it are
Washington has fewer than 2,500 residents, below the floor for District of Columbia’s town rankings: Census estimates for a town this size carry margins too wide to rank fairly. Here’s what the towns around it are known for.
Standouts nearby
What the towns around Washington are known for
Each neighbor’s best finish on a DC list.
#1Fewest smokers
HealthBrookmontFewest smokers · 5%
#1 of 262HealthBethesdaHealthiest · 100 / 100
#4Most active
HealthArlingtonMost active · 15%
#6 of 261OutdoorsTakoma ParkMost walkable · 185 / sq mi
#9 of 255OutdoorsAlexandriaMost walkable · 155 / sq mi
#12 of 261OutdoorsSilver SpringMost walkable · 154 / sq mi
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Weigh in
Is Washington one of the best towns in District of Columbia?
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Ask neighbors
How the rankings work
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every DC list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.