Population 22,561 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington County
Household size in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Washington County run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in Iowa overall, where it has 2.43 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.45, even as the national average fell.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Washington County are younger than 40.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 41.5, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Washington County (9.0%), below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Washington County rent their homes (26.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 39.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Washington County: 7.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Washington County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Washington County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the center.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $618 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $689 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $718 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $877 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$259 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Washington County pays $877 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $259 a month from 2006–10, a 42% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the center.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Washington County than nationally: 26.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north 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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Washington County is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Washington County has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
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 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 26.0% | 7.7% | 1966 | $877 | 26.4% | 93.4% | 2.2% |
| Louisa County | 2.52 | 44.1 | 6.3% | 19.7% | 10.4% | 1963 | $864 | 16.9% | 86.0% | 2.9% |
| Keokuk County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 9.7% | 18.7% | 11.6% | 1952 | $817 | 16.9% | 94.3% | 4.3% |
| Muscatine County | 2.43 | 40.0 | 13.7% | 26.1% | 7.4% | 1968 | $1,008 | 23.5% | 89.7% | 3.0% |
| Mahaska County | 2.45 | 39.5 | 9.9% | 32.0% | 9.7% | 1963 | $821 | 24.7% | 93.5% | 3.7% |
| Mercer County | 2.35 | 43.6 | 7.6% | 16.2% | 10.5% | 1961 | $775 | 21.1% | 93.9% | 3.0% |
| Rock Island County | 2.29 | 41.1 | 13.3% | 30.3% | 7.8% | 1961 | $971 | 24.8% | 90.7% | 5.6% |
| Marion County | 2.43 | 40.2 | 7.1% | 22.3% | 8.4% | 1976 | $891 | 33.1% | 94.8% | 2.3% |
| Henry County | 2.42 | 44.0 | 11.2% | 20.1% | 10.4% | 1960 | $933 | 24.6% | 92.0% | 5.1% |
| Warren County | 2.56 | 39.2 | 11.0% | 17.7% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,078 | 33.8% | 96.7% | 3.5% |
| Bureau County | 2.33 | 44.0 | 10.1% | 23.9% | 10.6% | 1957 | $864 | 21.6% | 91.3% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Dodge County, GA · Elbert County, GA · Edgar County, IL · Eastland County, TX · Dunklin County, MO · Dukes County, MA · Duchesne County, UT · Drew County, AR · Douglas County, IL · Door County, WI
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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