Washington County, Iowa
Among the top 12% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 46% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 58% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 45% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 47% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 88% of US counties
- top 13% for unemployment
- top 15% for cost of living
- bottom 15% for airport distance
Washington County is a county in Iowa with about 23,000 residents. It grades A for lifestyle & connectivity and C for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include unemployment, cost of living, and amenities nearby. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and airport distance.
Official websiteco.washington.ia.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
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cool
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warm
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80%55%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.5 in1.4 in
humid 90%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 85% of US counties
Home Value$182k61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$849better than 43% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 24% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.39%better than 18% of US counties
Income Tax6.00%better than 21% of US counties
Sales Tax6.94%better than 70% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden11.84%better than 18% of US counties
Unemployment2.6%better than 87% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)22°F16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.4 in37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall26.2 inbetter than 32% of US counties
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 59% of US counties
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 51% of US counties
Comfortable Days84 daysbetter than 63% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk44.2better than 54% of US counties
School Quality58.5better than 58% of US counties
Violent Crime1085/100kbetter than 31% of US counties
Property Crime1014/100kbetter than 45% of US counties
Community
Population22,53446th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.137th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1528th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9729th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2132nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)89.6%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.4%18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.0%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.4%36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.6%29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 61% of US counties
Walkability6.8/20better than 70% of US counties
Airport Distance192 mibetter than 15% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.3%better than 69% of US counties
Amenities Nearby7.99better than 80% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 67% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Washington County an affordable place to live?
- Washington County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 85% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Washington County?
- The median home value in Washington County is $182k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Washington County?
- Median household income in Washington County is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Washington County?
- Median gross rent in Washington County is $849 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Washington County safe?
- Washington County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1085/100k (better than 31%). Property crime is 1014/100k.
- What is the weather like in Washington County?
- Washington County averages 75°F in July and 22°F in January, with 37.4 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Washington County?
- Public-school quality in Washington County is about average, scoring better than 58% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Washington County?
- The average one-way commute in Washington County is 23 min.
Other counties in Iowa
Explore Iowa
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)