District of Columbia, District of Columbia
Kitchen remodeling in Washington, DC
Washington has 361,014 homes, about two in five of the occupied ones lived in by their owners. Half were built before 1958.
The homes of Washington
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates for Washington city.
More homes in Washington were built in before 1940 than in any other decade, 32% of them, followed by the 2010s at 14%.
69% of homes here were built before 1980. In a home built before 1978, a remodel that disturbs painted cabinets, trim or walls has to be done by a firm certified for lead-safe work by EPA. Ask for the certificate when you book the measure.
Detached houses are 11% of homes in Washington; the rest are townhomes, condos and apartments. In a condo or townhome the association may have to approve work on plumbing, walls or wiring, so ask for its rules before the measure.
Most homes in Washington are rented. A kitchen remodel is booked by the owner of the home, landlords included.
ZIP codes
ZIP codes where Washington is the largest place
| ZIP code | Homes | Owner-occupied | Median year built | Built before 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20002 | 39,801 | 38% | 1951 | 60% |
| 20009 | 32,028 | 35% | 1938 | 75% |
| 20011 | 29,874 | 56% | 1945 | 82% |
| 20019 | 29,145 | 42% | 1958 | 75% |
| 20001 | 26,928 | 33% | 1986 | 47% |
| 20020 | 26,059 | 30% | 1963 | 74% |
| 20003 | 22,394 | 37% | 2003 | 44% |
| 20008 | 18,058 | 36% | 1953 | 82% |
| 20010 | 16,010 | 41% | 1938 | 82% |
| 20016 | 15,480 | 65% | 1952 | 81% |
| 20007 | 13,722 | 56% | 1949 | 81% |
| 20024 | 12,219 | 32% | 1972 | 56% |
| 20018 | 9,826 | 52% | 1957 | 68% |
| 20017 | 9,722 | 58% | 1956 | 70% |
| 20005 | 9,464 | 32% | 1970 | 59% |
| 20037 | 8,823 | 32% | 1976 | 58% |
| 20012 | 7,774 | 65% | 1950 | 75% |
| 20015 | 6,828 | 77% | 1941 | 88% |
| 20036 | 4,432 | 38% | 1965 | 79% |
| 20004 | 1,629 | 43% | 1994 | 31% |
| 20006 | 896 | 6% | 1968 | 84% |
| 20052 | 82 | 0% | 0% | |
| 20059 | 31 | 0% |
What kitchen trades earn here
Electricians in the Washington area earn a median $36.50 an hour and plumbers $34.55, against $30.38 and $30.67 across the country (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That is what the workers are paid, not what a contractor charges for their time. All five kitchen trades: Washington area.
Before you sign: District of Columbia
Ask the contractor for the license or registration number they hold and the agency that issued it, then look the number up on that agency’s own site. Ask who will take out the building permit, and get the price, the payment schedule and the scope of work in writing before any money changes hands.
Contracts, licenses and lead-safe rules in District of Columbia · Permits · What it costs
Elsewhere in the Washington area
- Arlington, VA121,970 homes · half built before 1976
- Silver Spring, MD35,774 homes · half built before 1964
- Alexandria, VA80,844 homes · half built before 1974
- Bailey's Crossroads, VA10,020 homes · half built before 1976
- Bethesda, MD30,095 homes · half built before 1970
- South Kensington, MD2,990 homes · half built before 1957
- Huntington, VA7,895 homes · half built before 1978
- Lake Barcroft, VA4,017 homes · half built before 1961
- Falls Church, VA6,585 homes · half built before 1971
- Hillandale, MD1,655 homes · half built before 1961