Ramsey County vs Washington County
Ramsey County, Minnesota versus Washington County, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Washington County edges out Ramsey County on overall objective livability (47 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Ramsey County | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $78k | $111k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $59k |
| Home Value | $289k | $379k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.24% | 1.00% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.71% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.13% | 15.80% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 3.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 16°F | 16°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.4 in | 32.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 43.5 in | 45.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 182 days | 182 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 98 days | 98 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 94.6 | 83.9 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 92.6 | 60.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1062/100k | 306/100k |
| Property Crime | 3266/100k | 1161/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 547,202 | 268,651 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 39.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.57 | 0.33 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+46 | Even |
| White (%) | 59.6% | 79.8% |
| Black (%) | 11.8% | 4.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.7% | 4.6% |
| Asian (%) | 14.9% | 6.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.0% | 3.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 25 min |
| Walkability | 13.0/20 | 8.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 10 mi | 19 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.6% | 93.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 13.21 | 6.22 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ramsey County or Washington County more affordable?
- Ramsey County has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Ramsey County's $49k and Washington County's $59k. Median rent is $1k in Ramsey County versus $2k in Washington County.
- Is Ramsey County or Washington County safer?
- Washington County has the lower violent crime rate. Ramsey County reports 1062/100k and Washington County reports 306/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Ramsey County or Washington County?
- The median home value is $289k in Ramsey County and $379k in Washington County, so homes are more affordable in Ramsey County.