What states are people in moving to and from?

Updated May. 13, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, most people moving to Washington, DC came from Virginia, Maryland, and California. The top states people from Washington, DC left for were Virginia, Maryland, and California. Overall, about 54,200 people left Washington, DC for another state. Meanwhile 53,800 moved in from elsewhere in the US. Newcomers from other states accounted for 7.7% of Washington, DC's population.
Washington, DC had a net loss of 455 residents.

3 in 40

people living in Washington, DC the previous year moved to another state in 2024
Along with immigration and natural population change, state-to-state migration is one of the three ways a state's population may shift. In 2024, Washington, DC had positive net migration with 25 states and Puerto Rico.
Washington, DC had a net increase of 2,400 residents with California, the highest among all states. The largest net decrease in 2024 was with Maryland at -9,900.

Washington, DC had positive net migration with 19 states in 2024.

Net migration between Washington, DC and other states, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from Washington, DC moved to another state in the past year?

In 2024, 59% of the 53,500 people who left Washington, DC for another state moved to just three destinations: Maryland (16,800), Virginia (10,000), and New York (4,800).

In 2024, people leaving Washington, DC most often moved to Maryland, Virginia, and New York.

People moving from Washington, DC to another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from another state moved to Washington, DC in the past year?

Of the 52,800 people moving to Washington, DC from another state between 2023 and 2024, 35.4% came from three states: Virginia (+7,200 residents), Maryland (+6,900), and California (+4,600).

In 2024, newcomers arrived in Washington, DC most often from Virginia, Maryland, and California.

People moving to Washington, DC from another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

From 2020 to 2024, District of Columbia had the highest share of newcomers from other states, averaging 8.2% of its population each year. At the other end, District of Columbia recorded the lowest share, with 8.2% of residents moving in from another state.

Migration routes between Washington, DC and other states (2024)

Migration routes between Washington, DC and other states (2024)
Residence 1 year agoEstimate
1.

Virginia 

7,200
2.

Maryland 

6,900
3.

California 

4,600
4.

Pennsylvania 

3,800
5.

New York

3,100
6.

Illinois 

2,800
7.

New Jersey

2,500
8.

Colorado 

2,400
9.

Massachusetts 

1,800
10.

Connecticut 

1,600

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.