Washington County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Washington County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 10,812. It is the 95th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 48.8 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington County is $41,813. This is 42% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.1%. This is 85% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 13.0%. This is 176% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $125,900. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Washington County is Black or African American, making up 47.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (47.7% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.1%.

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 North Carolina 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.