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Washington County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Washington County, Minnesota has a population of 276,238, the 5th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $115,345 and the median home value is $422,000. The poverty rate is 5.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Washington County Quick Facts

Population 276,238
Median Household Income $115,345
Median Home Value $422,000
Poverty Rate 5.1%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 39.8 years
Homeownership Rate 81.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 49.1%
High School Graduation 96.0%
Cities/Places 25
Population 276,238 5th of 87
Median Income $115,345 30% higher than state
Poverty Rate 5.1%
Unemployment 3.4%

How Washington County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population272,298276,238+1.4%
Median household income$114,457$115,345+0.8%
Median home value$400,900$422,000+5.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.7%
$25K-$50K 10.4%
$50K-$100K 25.1%
$100K+ 57.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.1%
$10K-$15K
1.5%
$15K-$20K
1.3%
$20K-$25K
1.7%
$25K-$30K
1.8%
$30K-$35K
2.2%
$35K-$40K
2.2%
$40K-$45K
2.3%
$45K-$50K
1.9%
$50K-$60K
5.3%
$60K-$75K
7.0%
$75K-$100K
12.9%
$100K-$125K
12.6%
$125K-$150K
9.6%
$150K-$200K
13.9%
$200K+
21.8%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
68.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%
Renter 18.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,710/mo 17.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

39out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Washington County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Woodbury78,305$125,3105.3%$450,200
Cottage Grove40,992$120,7914.2%$378,800
Oakdale28,585$93,7725.7%$318,100
Forest Lake20,729$92,9447.0%$393,500
Stillwater19,355$105,8537.3%$414,200
Hugo16,340$116,2282.8%$408,900
Lake Elmo13,140$153,6694.8%$597,000
Mahtomedi8,133$123,3193.8%$476,000
St. Paul Park5,457$100,6425.0%$263,500
Oak Park Heights4,756$82,4767.1%$354,800
Newport4,754$71,9799.4%$378,100
Grant3,950$150,8753.7%$683,400
Scandia3,950$101,9531.9%$475,800
Bayport3,905$125,8933.7%$376,900
Afton2,957$133,3056.3%$679,300
Lakeland1,492$100,1323.3%$373,900
Dellwood1,181$225,0004.1%$873,600
Lake St. Croix Beach1,105$102,1598.8%$363,800
Birchwood Village866$156,5632.7%$462,800
Landfall776$42,00012.8%$18,900
Marine on St. Croix740$126,2502.8%$470,100
Willernie495$85,5316.1%$331,300
St. Marys Point483$113,75010.3%$523,000
Pine Springs395$156,2502.0%$626,600
Lakeland Shores344$134,3752.6%$455,400

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 276,238. It is the 5th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 25 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 39.8 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington County is $115,345. This is 30% higher than the state median of $89,062. It is also 43% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.1%. This is 45% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $422,000. Housing costs are 28% higher than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Washington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.2% of the population. Asian residents account for 7.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.7% vs 5.1%).

Education

49.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Washington County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.0%. Notably, 17.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Washington County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Minnesota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Washington County, Minnesota?

Washington County has a population of 276,238, 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 $115,345 with a poverty rate of 5.1%.

How many cities are in Washington County, Minnesota?

Washington County contains 25 Census-designated places.