Population 33,577 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.08 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Jefferson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.05 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center. Only one other Washington county has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.1 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 54.6 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 56.6 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 58.4 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Jefferson County skews older: half of its residents are older than 58.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 52.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Jefferson County has the oldest population of any Washington county.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Jefferson County: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only three of Washington's 39 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.0% of households in Jefferson County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (53.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 5.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.5% of the housing in Jefferson County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Jefferson County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Washington. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $825 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $936 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,044 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,536 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$711 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jefferson County costs $1,536 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Washington as a whole ($1,875). Rent has climbed $711 a month since 2006–10, up 86%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.9% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.9% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Jefferson County than nationally: 43.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.9 points, as it has nationally. Few Washington counties have a higher share of college graduates: only three of 39.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.5% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Jefferson County: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Washington's 39 counties, only three have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Jefferson County than nationally: unemployment was 6.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jefferson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.05 | 58.4 | 6.3% | 21.0% | 14.5% | 1986 | $1,536 | 43.9% | 95.4% | 6.9% |
| Island County | 2.42 | 47.2 | 7.4% | 25.3% | 15.1% | 1988 | $1,714 | 35.5% | 95.7% | 4.2% |
| Kitsap County | 2.56 | 41.6 | 10.0% | 29.9% | 8.4% | 1984 | $1,936 | 37.2% | 95.4% | 4.6% |
| Clallam County | 2.22 | 51.7 | 8.8% | 26.3% | 9.8% | 1982 | $1,296 | 30.8% | 93.8% | 5.2% |
| Snohomish County | 2.71 | 39.7 | 9.1% | 31.8% | 5.8% | 1989 | $2,169 | 38.5% | 93.1% | 4.5% |
| Skagit County | 2.52 | 43.2 | 11.0% | 29.9% | 8.2% | 1984 | $1,625 | 29.2% | 91.2% | 4.9% |
| San Juan County | 2.03 | 56.3 | 6.0% | 22.0% | 30.8% | 1988 | $1,505 | 53.6% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| King County | 2.53 | 38.6 | 7.8% | 44.6% | 7.0% | 1981 | $2,293 | 55.7% | 93.4% | 5.0% |
| Chelan County | 2.61 | 41.4 | 9.6% | 35.4% | 14.2% | 1981 | $1,300 | 30.8% | 86.3% | 3.9% |
| Douglas County | 2.76 | 39.5 | 14.3% | 30.7% | 10.6% | 1986 | $1,489 | 21.7% | 82.4% | 3.7% |
| Okanogan County | 2.37 | 43.9 | 13.5% | 27.6% | 18.6% | 1982 | $944 | 24.6% | 85.0% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Union County, PA · Crawford County, OH · Custer County, OK · Daviess County, IN · Todd County, MN · Toombs County, GA · Transylvania County, NC · Uintah County, UT · Union County, AR · Union County, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jefferson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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