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Washington County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Washington County, Virginia has a population of 53,913, the 34th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $62,774 and the median home value is $201,800. The poverty rate is 11.0%.

Washington County Quick Facts

Population 53,913
Median Household Income $62,774
Median Home Value $201,800
Poverty Rate 11.0%
Unemployment Rate 3.7%
Median Age 46.9 years
Homeownership Rate 75.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 26.5%
High School Graduation 90.1%
Cities/Places 7
Population 53,913 34th of 133
Median Income $62,774 31% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.0%
Unemployment 3.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.2%
$25K-$50K 22.4%
$50K-$100K 30.8%
$100K+ 28.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
4.2%
$15K-$20K
4.0%
$20K-$25K
5.6%
$25K-$30K
5.7%
$30K-$35K
5.3%
$35K-$40K
3.3%
$40K-$45K
4.5%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
7.7%
$60K-$75K
9.6%
$75K-$100K
13.4%
$100K-$125K
10.1%
$125K-$150K
5.7%
$150K-$200K
6.9%
$200K+
5.9%

Employment

3.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
53.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.8%
Renter 24.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

11out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Washington County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Abingdon8,332$54,97613.4%$217,700
Glade Spring2,224$76,73610.1%$170,700
Saltville2,056$46,09823.6%$92,000
Emory1,135$62,5004.8%$203,800
Meadowview922$70,0787.8%$173,800
Damascus766$33,17318.3%$186,300
Mendota125N/A0.0%$146,300

Population Overview

Washington County is located in Virginia with a total population of 53,913. It is the 34th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington County is 46.9 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.8 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 $62,774. This is 31% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $201,800. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Washington County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.4% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Washington County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia 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, Virginia?

Washington County has a population of 53,913, making it the 34th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Washington County?

The median household income in Washington County is $62,774 with a poverty rate of 11.0%.

How many cities are in Washington County, Virginia?

Washington County contains 7 Census-designated places.