Population 15,143 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington County
Household size in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Washington County has 2.52 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has edged down from 2.61 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the southwest.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.6 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.6 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.3 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Washington County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.6, mirroring the country.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Washington County than nationally: 12.7%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Alabama.
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 Washington County
Renters in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Washington County is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. The renter share has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. No other Alabama county has a lower share of renters.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.0% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Washington County: 21.8% of homes are empty, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.0 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Washington County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east 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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $537 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $649 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $701 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $617 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$80 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Washington County pays $617 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $80 a month from 2006–10, a 15% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 19.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Washington County
Bachelor's degrees in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.2% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Washington County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.2%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.2 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.6% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.0% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.2% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.4% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Washington County have finished high school as nationally: 89.4%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.8 points, mirroring the country. Washington County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Alabama counties.
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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Washington County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 6.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 2.52 | 44.5 | 12.7% | 14.2% | 21.8% | 1984 | $617 | 17.2% | 89.4% | 3.9% |
| Monroe County | 2.76 | 44.4 | 12.0% | 28.3% | 27.2% | 1984 | $726 | 12.4% | 85.2% | 9.3% |
| Forrest County | 2.50 | 35.1 | 15.3% | 42.8% | 10.9% | 1983 | $1,001 | 31.4% | 91.6% | 6.9% |
| Conecuh County | 2.55 | 46.7 | 10.2% | 25.7% | 30.6% | 1983 | $838 | 15.3% | 90.4% | 7.7% |
| Jefferson Davis County | 2.50 | 47.1 | 14.9% | 15.5% | 22.0% | 1988 | $727 | 12.0% | 87.7% | 9.5% |
| Lawrence County | 2.80 | 39.6 | 10.0% | 16.5% | 24.4% | 1983 | $763 | 12.8% | 84.7% | 9.3% |
| Lincoln County | 2.73 | 42.2 | 12.0% | 25.1% | 18.4% | 1985 | $814 | 19.0% | 87.3% | 3.2% |
| Coffee County | 2.60 | 39.9 | 12.0% | 27.7% | 14.3% | 1987 | $1,078 | 22.8% | 87.3% | 4.8% |
| Dale County | 2.58 | 40.1 | 13.7% | 38.1% | 14.6% | 1983 | $876 | 19.8% | 86.2% | 6.4% |
| Franklin County | 2.49 | 43.8 | 21.3% | 18.3% | 29.1% | 1982 | $770 | 18.6% | 86.9% | 3.6% |
| Henry County | 2.51 | 45.4 | 9.1% | 20.5% | 20.4% | 1984 | $794 | 23.0% | 84.6% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Franklin County, MS · Fayette County, TX · Fentress County, TN · Fillmore County, NE · Floyd County, TX · Franklin City, VA · Franklin County, AR · Franklin County, FL · Franklin County, GA · Fayette County, IN
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 Washington 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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