California vs District of Columbia

D.C.’s $3,166.95 against California’s $135.64

The District of Columbia’s spending per capita is $3166.95 against $135.64 in the paired state. A small Census count — 702,250 in the District versus 39,431,263 in the state — produces an intensity reading that no large-state file matches in this pair. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations by place of performance, not Treasury outlays. Cash payments can lag award dates. Headquarters can differ from the state coded on the award.

Stacked stock still matters. California holds $39.5B; District of Columbia holds $19.9B. The District can trail or lead that stock while leading intensity. Place of performance in the capital is not a state economy in miniature. It is a dense award geography on a small population denominator.

95,844 capital awards vs 639,340 California awards

Award counts are 639,340 in California and 95,844 in District of Columbia. The District’s row file is smaller. The paired state’s row file is larger. Neither count is an outlay. The District’s $19.9B is about half of California’s $39.5B on a Census count that is not in the same league as 39,431,263.

Administrative management and general management consulting services as the District peak is a capital-services mix. Commercial and institutional building construction as California’s peak is a facilities mix on a much larger population. Intensity uses Census population against stacked obligations. It is not personal income and it is not a city-versus-state verdict.

Questions

Which has more federal spending, California or District of Columbia?

California shows $39.5B in USAspending.gov obligations; District of Columbia shows $19.9B. Award counts are 639,340 and 95,844. Populations are 39,431,263 and 702,250. Spending per capita is $135.64 versus $3166.95. FY2026 obligations are $5.3B and $2.2B. These are obligations, not Treasury outlays.

What industries lead California and District of Columbia federal awards?

California’s top industry is commercial and institutional building construction. District of Columbia’s top industry is administrative management and general management consulting services. Those slices sit on $39.5B and $19.9B in USAspending.gov obligations and on 639,340 versus 95,844 awards. They mark the largest grouping in each file, not every award.

How do California and District of Columbia compare on spending per capita?

Spending per capita is $135.64 in California on 39,431,263 residents and $3166.95 in District of Columbia on 702,250 residents. Those ratios use stacked USAspending.gov obligations of $39.5B and $19.9B, not FY2026 alone and not GDP. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not Treasury outlays.

Are California vs District of Columbia figures Treasury outlays?

No. The $39.5B and $19.9B stacked totals, and FY2026 amounts of $5.3B and $2.2B, are USAspending.gov obligations by place of performance. Outlays are cash payments and can lag. Award counts are 639,340 and 95,844. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not Treasury outlays.