Not bad, D.C., not bad. New data from the 2010 Census shows that the District of Columbia has now reached a 68 percent level of participation, which means 2 percentage points more of us mailed in our Census forms this year than did in 2000. Last we checked a little over a week ago, we were still hovering at 66 percent.

The District’s rate of mail-in participation is still below the national average of 72 percent, but we at least were able to improve over the last time — the country as a whole has merely managed to match the same rate of return as 2000.

Our neighboring states continue to outshine us, however. Virginia is posting a 75 percent mail-in rate, with Maryland close behind at 74 percent.

Final 2010 Census participation numbers are expected on Wednesday, with Census employees expected to hit the streets starting in May.