Washington County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Washington County, Minnesota has a population of 272,298, the 5th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $114,457 and the median home value is $400,900. The poverty rate is 5.0%.

Washington County Quick Facts

Population 272,298

Median Household Income $114,457

Median Home Value $400,900

Poverty Rate 5.0%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 39.9 years

Homeownership Rate 81.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 48.9%

High School Graduation 96.3%

Cities/Places 27

Population 272,298 5th of 87

Median Income $114,457 31% higher state

Poverty Rate 5.0%

Unemployment 3.3%

Median Household Income

Washington

$114,457

$87,556

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Washington

$400,900

$305,500

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.9%

$25K-$50K 10.7%

$50K-$100K 24.9%

$100K+ 57.4%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9% | National: 5.2%

68.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.2%

Renter 18.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.2%

18-34

19.1%

35-54

26.8%

55-74

23.4%

75+

6.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Washington County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Woodbury city	76,945	$126,222	4.9%	$434,900
Cottage Grove city	40,124	$121,452	4.2%	$359,600
Oakdale city	28,109	$90,379	6.0%	$305,900
White Bear Lake city	24,026	$79,712	7.8%	$318,000
Hastings city	22,050	$92,940	5.6%	$294,100
Forest Lake city	20,678	$89,879	6.7%	$375,900
Stillwater city	19,323	$109,297	7.7%	$398,100
Hugo city	16,076	$114,057	1.7%	$394,200
Lake Elmo city	12,504	$153,407	4.3%	$588,900
Mahtomedi city	8,108	$132,326	3.9%	$466,100
St. Paul Park city	5,464	$98,670	5.4%	$252,800
Oak Park Heights city	4,782	$84,639	5.5%	$333,600
Newport city	4,460	$63,365	10.6%	$331,300
Scandia city	3,966	$100,179	2.6%	$471,900
Grant city	3,959	$145,357	5.3%	$622,000
Bayport city	3,948	$115,781	3.9%	$363,200
Afton city	2,944	$129,956	5.7%	$655,400
Lakeland city	1,510	$101,339	3.8%	$357,700
Dellwood city	1,145	$208,125	3.9%	$729,800
Lake St. Croix Beach city	1,106	$100,134	12.1%	$334,600
Birchwood Village city	960	$156,653	4.8%	$461,800
Landfall city	802	$39,938	14.1%	$26,300
Marine on St. Croix city	712	$123,750	2.5%	$464,100
St. Marys Point city	484	$106,250	10.5%	$471,400
Willernie city	466	$82,321	4.5%	$307,000
Pine Springs city	412	$167,750	2.4%	$613,600
Lakeland Shores city	371	$136,875	1.6%	$445,700

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Washington County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 272,298. It is the 5th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 27 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 39.9 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington County is $114,457. This is 31% higher than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 46% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.0%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $400,900. Housing costs are 31% higher than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 81.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Washington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 7.3%.

Education

48.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Washington County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.3%. Notably, 17.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Washington County, Minnesota?

Washington County has a population of 272,298, making it the 5th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Washington County?

The median household income in Washington County is $114,457 with a poverty rate of 5.0%.

How many cities are in Washington County, Minnesota?

Washington County contains 27 Census-designated places.