Population 130,344 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington County
Household size in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Washington County are small: just 2.38 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.49, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.0 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.0, Washington County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 41.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Washington County: 7.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.4% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.5% of households in Washington County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 34.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.4 points, 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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.6% of the housing in Washington 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.2 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Washington County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the wider Providence area, where the median home dates to 1962. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southwest.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,006 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,020 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,221 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,461 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$455 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
Rent in Washington County runs $1,461 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $455 a month since 2006–10, up 45%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.8% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.6% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.6% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Washington County is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (53.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the west.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.7% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Washington County: 95.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Washington County runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, as it has 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).
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 | 2.38 | 46.0 | 7.7% | 22.5% | 16.6% | 1976 | $1,461 | 53.6% | 95.8% | 4.6% |
| Newport County | 2.25 | 46.8 | 6.9% | 32.1% | 14.5% | 1965 | $1,760 | 54.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| New London County | 2.38 | 43.4 | 11.4% | 32.4% | 9.7% | 1968 | $1,478 | 36.6% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
| Middlesex County | 2.35 | 45.3 | 8.8% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1970 | $1,540 | 44.7% | 95.2% | 3.9% |
| Dukes County | 2.86 | 50.5 | 12.4% | 17.9% | 51.7% | 1981 | $1,542 | 53.3% | 96.2% | 5.5% |
| New Haven County | 2.53 | 41.7 | 13.5% | 37.6% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,584 | 38.5% | 90.6% | 6.4% |
| Putnam County | 2.72 | 44.4 | 7.9% | 16.2% | 8.6% | 1968 | $1,962 | 45.3% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Orange County | 3.09 | 37.6 | 10.4% | 32.2% | 8.9% | 1976 | $1,781 | 30.9% | 88.8% | 5.3% |
| Pike County | 2.54 | 48.4 | 8.7% | 13.0% | 31.0% | 1984 | $1,426 | 30.0% | 92.9% | 7.6% |
| Wayne County | 2.35 | 49.3 | 9.3% | 19.5% | 28.3% | 1977 | $1,056 | 24.3% | 92.4% | 5.8% |
| Lackawanna County | 2.40 | 42.6 | 12.5% | 34.6% | 11.9% | 1957 | $1,067 | 30.8% | 91.6% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Blair County, PA · Bonneville County, ID · Tom Green County, TX · Saline County, AR · Jasper County, MO · Kendall County, IL · Kennebec County, ME · La Crosse County, WI · Linn County, OR · Madison 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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