NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in District of Columbia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 81.4 (High), ranked #51 of 51 states. 2,903 establishments, 67,070 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 81.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
High Risk

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

⚡Volatile Market📈Growth Opportunity

Despite ranking top 5 in growth momentum, District of Columbia presents structural entry friction. Wage pressure (78.0) and an overall risk score of 81.4 indicate that top-line growth may not translate to favorable unit economics for new establishments.

5-Year Firm Retention
11.8%
Percentile within industry
Rank #46 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 74.4
Scale of 0-100
Rank #3 of 51 states
Establishment Density
100.0
vs. national average
Rank #51 of 51 states
Market Volatility
100.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
78.0
Labor cost pressure

2,903 Establishments in District of Columbia

2,903
Establishments
+2.9% YoY
67,070
Total Employment
+1.4% YoY
$47,028
Average Annual Wage
+5.9% YoY

District of Columbia vs National Accommodation and Food Services Average

How District of Columbia's accommodation and food services market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric DC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 81.4 40.0 +41.4
5-Year Retention 11.8% 51.0% -39.2
Growth Momentum 74.4 41.1 +33.3
Market Volatility 100.0 23.9 +76.1
Establishment Density 100.0 27.0 +73.0
Wage Pressure 78.0 33.4 +44.6

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within accommodation and food services only.

District of Columbia Ranks #51 of 51 for Accommodation and Food Services

District of Columbia ranks #51 out of 51 states for accommodation and food services market entry conditions.

Accommodation and Food Services Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Delaware 19.8 low
#2 North Carolina 23.4 low
#3 New Mexico 24.5 low
#4 Idaho 26.2 low
#5 Wisconsin 28.2 low
#51 District of Columbia You 81.4 high
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 31.6 · #14 Alabama — 44.1 · #37 Arkansas — 36.9 · #26 Arizona — 46.9 · #40 California — 57.2 · #47 Colorado — 46.9 · #41 Connecticut — 37.3 · #27 District of Columbia — 81.4 · #51 Delaware — 19.8 · #1 Florida — 53.6 · #44 Georgia — 43.6 · #35 Hawaii — 66.1 · #50 Iowa — 39.0 · #29 Idaho — 26.2 · #4 Illinois — 39.5 · #30 Indiana — 37.9 · #28 Kansas — 34.2 · #18 Kentucky — 36.9 · #25 Louisiana — 43.8 · #36 Massachusetts — 28.4 · #7 Maryland — 31.7 · #15 Maine — 55.0 · #46 Michigan — 29.2 · #10 Minnesota — 34.9 · #19 Missouri — 47.2 · #42 Mississippi — 35.6 · #21 Montana — 46.1 · #39 North Carolina — 23.4 · #2 North Dakota — 29.5 · #12 Nebraska — 41.5 · #31 New Hampshire — 28.8 · #8 New Jersey — 43.3 · #34 New Mexico — 24.5 · #3 Nevada — 64.0 · #49 New York — 58.6 · #48 Ohio — 29.3 · #11 Oklahoma — 35.0 · #20 Oregon — 42.8 · #32 Pennsylvania — 36.8 · #24 Rhode Island — 28.3 · #6 South Carolina — 29.2 · #9 South Dakota — 36.7 · #23 Tennessee — 29.5 · #13 Texas — 46.0 · #38 Utah — 36.5 · #22 Virginia — 33.6 · #16 Vermont — 51.0 · #43 Washington — 42.9 · #33 Wisconsin — 28.2 · #5 West Virginia — 33.7 · #17 Wyoming — 55.0 · #45
Low Moderate Elevated High

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About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does District of Columbia stack up against other states for accommodation and food services?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Accommodation and Food Services in Neighboring States

How District of Columbia's accommodation and food services market compares to bordering states.

Maryland 31.7 #15/51 Virginia 33.6 #16/51

Other Industries in District of Columbia

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →