Population 603,947 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington County
Household size in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.71 | 2.63 | 2.55 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.72 | 2.63 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Washington County average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the Portland area overall, where it has 2.51 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.66, mirroring the country.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.9 | 37.3 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.8 | 38.3 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 39.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 41.0 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +3.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
At 39.2, the median age in Washington County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the wider Portland area, where the median age is 41.0. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.9, as it has nationally.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.3% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 9.5% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Washington County (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Portland area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3% | 36.6% | 36.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.3% | 39.1% | 38.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.3% | 37.6% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 38.3% | 36.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Washington County rent their homes (39.2%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. About three in ten owners (30.2%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only three of Oregon's 36 counties have a higher 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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 7.4% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 6.8% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 6.1% | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 7.1% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Washington County: just 4.4% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.7 points, mirroring the country. No other Oregon county has a lower vacancy rate.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1977 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1978 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1980 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1981 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Washington County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east has the oldest housing. Of Oregon's 36 counties, only two have newer homes.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $986 | $961 | $870 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,126 | $1,105 | $982 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,462 | $1,374 | $1,183 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,997 | $1,794 | $1,601 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,011 | +$833 | +$731 | +$606 |
The median renter in Washington County pays $1,997 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,011 a month from 2006–10, a 103% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other Oregon county has higher rents.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0% | 33.3% | 29.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 34.5% | 30.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.4% | 39.2% | 33.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.6% | 42.6% | 36.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Washington County: 47.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 8.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Oregon county has a higher share of college graduates.
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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 90.0% | 88.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 90.6% | 89.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 91.9% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 93.2% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Washington County have finished high school (92.6%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend. Washington County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Oregon 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 | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.6% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Washington County runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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 | 2.62 | 39.2 | 9.4% | 39.2% | 4.4% | 1989 | $1,997 | 47.6% | 92.6% | 4.4% |
| Multnomah County | 2.34 | 39.4 | 10.2% | 46.6% | 6.7% | 1969 | $1,755 | 47.6% | 91.9% | 5.6% |
| Clackamas County | 2.63 | 43.0 | 8.8% | 29.3% | 6.4% | 1985 | $1,847 | 40.3% | 94.7% | 4.3% |
| Tillamook County | 2.26 | 49.4 | 11.2% | 25.7% | 30.0% | 1978 | $1,263 | 26.9% | 90.5% | 4.8% |
| Wasco County | 2.41 | 43.2 | 8.7% | 32.5% | 12.6% | 1970 | $1,125 | 22.0% | 85.7% | 8.0% |
| Sherman County | 2.40 | 43.8 | 9.4% | 34.1% | 17.0% | 1960 | $1,021 | 16.0% | 91.1% | 0.9% |
| Gilliam County | 2.25 | 50.7 | 5.9% | 25.9% | 20.3% | 1971 | $1,174 | 20.6% | 88.3% | 2.6% |
| Union County | 2.39 | 39.9 | 9.0% | 34.5% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,039 | 26.0% | 93.6% | 5.6% |
| Wallowa County | 2.22 | 49.3 | 8.5% | 27.5% | 21.5% | 1970 | $1,127 | 38.7% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Madison County | 2.44 | 50.6 | 2.5% | 19.0% | 37.0% | 1995 | $1,165 | 32.7% | 93.6% | 3.0% |
| Carbon County | 2.39 | 52.1 | 5.9% | 22.0% | 24.6% | 1977 | $1,072 | 34.8% | 96.3% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Will County, IL · Bernalillo County, NM · Tulsa County, OK · Anne Arundel County, MD · Williamson County, TX · Volusia County, FL · Utah County, UT · Union County, NJ · Summit County, OH · Stanislaus County, CA
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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