Population 136,261 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington County
Household size in Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Washington County are small: just 2.34 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. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.4 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Washington County are younger than 41.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.7, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the southwest.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Washington County than nationally: 9.1%, against 11.6%. Washington County has a lower share of single-parent households than most Tennessee counties.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.4% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Washington County rent their homes (35.5%), close to the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (45.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Washington County is close to the national rate: 10.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, 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 Washington County
| Period | Washington County | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Washington County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $632 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $726 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $783 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,008 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$375 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in Washington County runs $1,008 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $375 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the northwest.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.7% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Washington County (34.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in Tennessee overall (31.4%). The share with a degree has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Tennessee counties have a higher share of college graduates: only six of 95.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Washington County is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Washington County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Tennessee 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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.7%, unemployment in Washington County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.2 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 | 2.34 | 41.3 | 9.1% | 35.5% | 10.8% | 1984 | $1,008 | 34.9% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Carter County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 11.0% | 24.8% | 13.3% | 1976 | $755 | 21.1% | 89.9% | 6.1% |
| Hawkins County | 2.46 | 46.1 | 12.6% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 1985 | $907 | 16.2% | 87.4% | 7.1% |
| Johnson County | 2.33 | 46.2 | 14.4% | 22.5% | 16.3% | 1982 | $741 | 17.4% | 83.0% | 3.8% |
| Watauga County | 2.33 | 35.3 | 6.0% | 37.9% | 27.1% | 1986 | $1,142 | 52.3% | 91.3% | 7.7% |
| Hamblen County | 2.55 | 40.3 | 14.5% | 30.2% | 7.6% | 1982 | $890 | 20.2% | 88.3% | 4.8% |
| Ashe County | 2.20 | 49.6 | 9.0% | 20.6% | 27.3% | 1983 | $894 | 27.0% | 89.1% | 4.5% |
| Grainger County | 2.54 | 46.7 | 10.2% | 22.9% | 16.4% | 1991 | $872 | 16.2% | 85.9% | 4.3% |
| Claiborne County | 2.30 | 42.5 | 11.2% | 27.8% | 12.8% | 1987 | $750 | 18.0% | 84.2% | 4.4% |
| Alleghany County | 2.15 | 51.2 | 4.0% | 25.6% | 29.5% | 1980 | $721 | 22.2% | 83.7% | 4.1% |
| Union County | 2.58 | 43.3 | 6.3% | 19.8% | 19.2% | 1991 | $825 | 14.0% | 86.2% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Skagit County, WA · Hunterdon County, NJ · Livingston Parish, LA · Marathon County, WI · Monroe County, IN · Morgan County, AL · Napa County, CA · Pickens County, SC · Ponce Municipio, PR · Randall County, TX
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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