Washington, DC offers unparalleled access to the world’s key decision makers in the dynamic heart of the nation. Strategically located at the crossroads of commerce and policy, Washington, DC is comprised of a richly diverse and highly educated workforce, prestigious educational institutions, a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem, an unmatched quality of life, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability. Uncover the wealth of opportunities awaiting your business in the nation’s capital.
From WDCEP’s Regional Economic Market Overview. Most of the underlying data is 2021–2023.
Strategic location
The District of Columbia sits in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast Corridor. Within a short flight or train ride of other major markets such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta, a Washington, DC office puts your company at the crossroads of commerce.
Getting around
- Rail. 6 lines with 41 Metrorail stations inside DC boundaries, supported by the MARC and VRE systems connecting DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Union Station is Amtrak’s second busiest station and provides direct service to 161 cities.
- Bus. 11,500 stops across 269 routes. Metrobus is supported by additional operators including the DC Circulator, Maryland Commuter Bus, Arlington Transit, Alexandria DASH, Fairfax Connector, and OmniRide.
- Micromobility. 373 Capital Bikeshare stations in DC, plus rideshare options, e-bikes, scooters, and water taxis.
- Highways. I-66, I-95, I-295, I-395, and I-495.
Flight times from Washington, DC
The DC metro area provides direct access to major domestic and international destinations via three airports: Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI).
| Destination | Flight time |
|---|---|
| New York City | 1h 10m |
| Boston | 1h 20m |
| Toronto | 1h 25m |
| Atlanta | 1h 46m |
| Chicago | 2h |
| Houston | 3h 10m |
| Los Angeles | 5h 33m |
| San Francisco | 6h |
| London | 7h 25m |
| Paris | 7h 35m |
| Amsterdam | 7h 45m |
| Tokyo | 13h 55m |
Major employers
The DC metropolitan area is home to 18 Fortune 500 companies and leading companies in the digital media, marketing and design, management consulting, non-profit, professional services, and tech sectors. Washington, DC is a Top 10 metro for corporate headquarters (Business Facilities, 2023).
- Digital media: APCO Worldwide, Google, Meta, NPR, SiriusXM
- Marketing & design: AECOM, Gannett, Gensler, Industry Dive, The Washington Post
- Management consulting: Booz Allen Hamilton, BCG, Brookings, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, PwC
- Non-profits: American Chemical Society, American Red Cross, AARP, Children’s National, Network for Good
- Professional services: Accenture, Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, EY, LexisNexis
- Tech: Amazon, CoStar Group, General Dynamics, Google, Microsoft
Recent investments
JP Morgan purchased a 231,000 SF building at 875 15th St NW for its new regional headquarters, which opened in 2022. With an employee-led desire to return to the office, JP Morgan consolidated regional offices into a Downtown DC location and completely renovated the building to accommodate more than 500 employees.
International Baccalaureate’s Global Centre for the Americas region relocated from Maryland to Washington, DC. The 130-person, 100,000 SF office opened in 2023 and is located in the mixed-use 1.2 million SF City Ridge development in Northwest Washington, DC.
The Atlantic Council doubled its existing office to 79,700 SF when it signed a lease at 1400 L Street NW in Q1 2023. The think tank, founded in 1961, focuses on international affairs and has 650 employees around the globe.
Boston Consulting Group, one of the world’s largest management consulting firms, relocated its regional office from outside DC to more than 100,000 SF at 15th and F, just east of the White House in Downtown DC. The firm’s decision was based on the need for a centrally located regional office for the convenience of its clients and staff.
Crowell & Moring LLP, an international law firm founded in Washington, DC, is the anchor tenant at 600 Fifth and occupies nearly 200,000 SF on the building’s top five floors. The redevelopment of the former Metro headquarters was the first new office development to break ground in Washington, DC in 2023.
Additional recent office openings and expansions
| Company | Jobs | Space |
|---|---|---|
| PwC | 1,700 | 182,000 sq ft |
| 400 | 130,000 sq ft | |
| Virtru | 190 | 17,000 sq ft |
| KTGY | 74 | 15,000 sq ft |
Population and skilled workforce
The DC metro area, with 6.4 million residents, is well positioned for sustainable population growth. The metro area has grown by 12% since 2010, against a national rate of 8% over the same period. Since 2011, the District of Columbia has increased its population by 11% to a total of 672,000 residents. One in five people in the DC metro area (22.8%) are foreign-born.
If it were a state, the District would be the country’s fifth most diverse. DC was ranked #1 city in the U.S. for LGBTQ+ equality. More than 168 languages are spoken in the metro area, with 26% of the population aged 5+ speaking a language other than English at home. More than 53% of adults in the DC metro area hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35% nationally, and 39% hold advanced degrees compared to 14.4% nationally.
- #1 most educated city in the United States — US Census Bureau
- Most Innovative State — WalletHub, March 2023
- #3 best metro area for U.S. life sciences talent — CBRE, June 2023
Top educational institutions
The Washington, DC metro area is home to one of the nation’s most well-trained and productive workforces. Fueling that talent pipeline are 20+ colleges and universities located within the region, with 8 universities and a growing number of satellite locations in DC. The District alone is home to 4 of the top 100 colleges and universities as ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2023: Georgetown University, Howard University, George Washington University, and American University. Major universities with satellite campuses in DC include Johns Hopkins University, Princeton, NYU, Stanford, the University of Southern California, and Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech’s new $1.3 billion innovation campus sits just across the Potomac River from DC.
Source: JobsEQ, DC MSA, 2020–21 academic year.
Innovation and technology ecosystem
Washington, DC is the heart of a booming regional tech hub, home to leading companies, growing brands, and innovative startups. The metro area’s talent pool, funding environment, and public support of the industry continue to demonstrate the District’s competitive advantage for tech companies.
The Washington, DC region has established itself as a thriving innovation and R&D hub. In 2022, $4.27 billion in venture capital funding went to DC-area companies (Technical.ly, 2023). The region offers direct access to industry leaders in biotech, defense, and data science R&D, proximity to relevant federal agencies and funders including the NIH, FDA, and BARDA, top-tier research universities, and prominent companies in the defense, R&D, and consulting industries.
Tech startups and incubators
The Washington, DC region claims hundreds of startup and innovation accelerators, incubators, and investors. It benefits from corporate innovation centers such as Booz Allen’s Center for Innovation and AARP’s Innovation Lab, as well as startup resources like 1863 Ventures and CONNECTpreneur. University initiatives like Georgetown Venture Labs and the Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship play an important role in the ecosystem, alongside local accelerators like FedTech.io and DCodeDC for companies specifically selling to and working with the federal government.
Booz Allen, with over a century of experience, drives advancements in defense, healthcare, climate science, and intelligence, showcasing its expertise at The Helix, an innovation center, to address the U.S. government’s toughest challenges.
Quality of life
Cultural and social diversity is a hallmark of the DMV, with lively neighborhoods like Adams Morgan fostering a vibrant mix of international cuisine, art, and entertainment. Family-friendly activities are abundant, with the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC, over 80 historic and world-class museums, and 45 theater and performing arts venues — including 18 free Smithsonian institutions.
Key investments over the past 10 years
- $41B in new development
- 56,000+ new residential units
- 46 new grocery stores
- 40 miles of additional bike lanes (94 miles total)
- 20 new recreation centers
- 17 new libraries
- 11 new museums & memorials
- 8 new parks
- $3.3B in opening nearly 70 new and modernized schools
- 18 free Smithsonian museums
- 99% of DC residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park — Trust for Public Land, 2023
- #5 most walkable city in the US and Canada — Walk Score, 2021
- #2 city for bike commuting — The Washington Post, 2022
- #5 most bike-friendly city in the US — Clever, 2023
Sustainability
The District continues to be a leader in green policies, with goals of reducing greenhouse gases by 60% by 2030 and becoming a carbon-free city by 2050. In 2017, the District was named the first LEED Platinum city in the world by the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2022 it received an “A” in Climate Action from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), remaining on track to meet its carbon and renewable energy goals.
Economic incentives and support
Companies relocating to or expanding within Washington, DC can take advantage of financial incentives and business support services. The District’s Vitality Fund supports companies expanding headquarters to the District, and the Qualified High Tech Company (QHTC) incentives specifically target tech companies based in DC.
- Vitality Fund: a multi-year, performance-based incentive program designed to support companies in target industries actively planning to relocate, expand, or retain their physical location in Washington, DC, and to encourage the creation of new jobs.
- Creative Open Space and Modernization (COSM): an incentive program designed to support the growth of large companies that make a long-term commitment to locate in the District. Eligible companies can receive an annual tax rebate for up to five years to offset property taxes and tenant improvements.
- DC Department of Employment Services: recruitment and hiring support, plus workforce development and training programs for District employers, including On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs.
- The District of Columbia Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund: can rebate a percentage of the costs of producing movies, television shows, and video productions, and/or infrastructure improvements to studio space in Washington, DC.
Talk to us
- Derek Ford, President & CEO — dford@wdcep.com, (202) 661-8670
- Kathrine VanLiew, Senior Director of International Business Attraction — kvanliew@wdcep.com, (315) 730-0033
- Suzanne White, Executive Vice President of Corporate Attraction — swhite@wdcep.com, (202) 661-4271
Related: Washington, DC International Business Overview and DC’s targeted industry clusters.