On March 28, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Demographic shifts in the District of Columbia following the COVID-19 pandemic, was cited by Axios DC:
The District is no longer attracting as many of the young and well-educated adults who have fueled its recent population growth, census data shows.
Why it matters: The migration of young people over the past two decades led to an increase in public school enrollment, new development, and more tax revenue for the District.
But the number of people aged 25 to 34 moving into the city has slowed in the past four years, further declining during the pandemic, local think tank D.C. Policy Center found.
In 2020, 54% of the residents who moved out of the city were aged 25 to 34. There was a net loss of nearly 16,100 residents in that age group.
What they’re saying: “The outflow of office workers, young adults, and commuter activity puts the District’s income tax base at risk,” wrote researcher Bailey McConnell.
By the numbers: Among income brackets, the greatest decline in population occurred for households earning between $50,000 to $75,000 annually, accounting for 18% of households moving out of the city in 2020.
“While it is difficult to determine with certainty why these residents moved out of the District, past data suggest that housing and work-related reasons are likely explanations,” the analysis says.
Read more: Morning newsletter: D.C. struggles to retain millennials | Axios DC