Washtenaw County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Washtenaw County is located in Michigan with a total population of 368,394. It is the 6th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washtenaw County is 34.8 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washtenaw County is $87,156. This is 22% higher than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% higher. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $353,000. Housing costs are 62% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 61.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Washtenaw County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (8.8% vs 3.3%).

Education

58.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Washtenaw County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.8%. Notably, 31.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.