Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, is one of the most significant cities of the free world. Thousands of new inhabitants relocate to the greater D.C. area every year in order to avail job opportunities, make political contributions, or enroll in some of the finest educational institutions in the country.
The District is the 21st largest city in the country and is home to over 600,000 people. However, majority of the people that work, study, or play in D.C. reside in Northern Virginia or Maryland. The overall population of this tri-state area is over 2 million people.
Listed below are the top three factors that contribute to the desirability and appeal of D.C.
Housing Cost
Washington D.C. is the sixth most affordable city, in the US, in terms of housing costs. Also, D.C. isn’t generally associated with unavoidable factors like traffic and crime which makes it much more appealing to the masses when compared to cities like New York and Chicago.
However, one should consider that housing costs shouldn’t be the only factor in determining whether D.C. would be a good fit or not. The overall cost of living is high in D.C., but there average salaries are also proportional higher.
Quality of Life
D.C. is a city that offers rich culture, has various entertainment forums, and features lively nightlife. The governmental and historical buildings across the city make it a city where one cannot help but feel proud and patriotic.
This cosmopolitan city is also home to hundreds of international organizations, some of the best universities, and forums that attract some of the best minds in the nation.
Taxes
The District has a taxation system that begs consideration prior to relocation. The city has a sales tax of 6% imposed on most products, however groceries, residential utilities, and prescription and over the counter drugs are all exempt from taxation. D.C. does however impose high taxes on liquor (9%), restaurant meals (10%), rental cars (10%), parking (12%), and hotel accommodations (14.5%).
Income tax is dependent on annual income and ranges from 5% to 9.3% for those that earn an excess of $30,000 per annum.
Moving Costs & the Elections
Local D.C. movers would be able to inform one about how much moving to D.C. should cost. These DC movers would be able to provide special or flat rates after they consider the distance from current location to D.C. and the weight of your furniture and belongings that needs to be moved. It is best to check the Better Business Bureau accreditation and customer reviews prior to committing to a mover.
Also, it is important to consider the effects of the elections prior to moving to D.C. Majority of the jobs in the District are federal or sub contracted to these federal organizations. The number of jobs available after the elections would be highly dependent on whether President Obama gets reelected or if republican candidate Mitt Romney wins.
Military and intelligence related jobs should increase if Romney is elected, but organizations like Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Federal Housing Authority will have to cut jobs is Romney is elected. On the other hand, Obama has already slashed thousands of CIA, CIA support, administrative, and small financial institution jobs in the greater DC area. But he has been responsible for thousands of jobs that support mortgage and financial giants.
If you’re looking to move to D.C. for the sole reason of finding employment then it is best to ensure that you have several leads prior to moving to the area. However, the District is the capital of the land of opportunity so one is prone to finding something sooner or later.