Washington County, Missouri Income Statistics
Washington County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Washington County Well below averageLess wealthy than 88% of counties in Missouri
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,625 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,715 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.9% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.3% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 20% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing faster in Washington County (5.4%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Washington County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Washington County, Missouri grew by 59.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,625 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington County
| Metric | Washington County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.544 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,920 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,030 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.4% | 20.6% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Washington County, it is 0.544, higher than Missouri's 0.532, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Washington County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $486,150 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Missouri has widened from about 23% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and was narrowest at 19% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,508 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Washington County widened by 1.7 points while Missouri's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Washington County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.8% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 352 people are unemployed in Washington County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Washington County is 31 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington County, Missouri has fallen from 14.3% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.9% in 2014.
Washington County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Washington County, MO is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 23,470 residents against a local median of 66,999. The measure that sets Washington County, MO apart most is income growth: 5.4%/yr, 20% above the local median of 4.5%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.6% against a local median of 4.3%, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Washington County, MO is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.0%/yr on income growth, so Washington County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Washington County, MO has the 2nd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, MO | 23,470 | $56,625 #5/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 3.6% #3/6 | 0.544 #5/6 |
| Iron County, MO | 9,446 | $49,236 | 4.0%/yr | 3.0% | 0.520 |
| Crawford County, MO | 22,797 | $58,081 | 5.9%/yr | 4.9% | 0.506 |
| St. Francois County, MO | 66,999 | $58,481 | 4.4%/yr | 4.5% | 0.558 |
| Jefferson County, MO | 229,447 | $82,868 | 4.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.505 |
| Franklin County, MO | 105,953 | $73,054 | 4.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.506 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Washington County, Missouri?
Washington County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,625, about 20% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Washington County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington County, Missouri rose 59%, from $35,571 to $56,625. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +59% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington County, Missouri was $53,078, up 8% from $49,340 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington County, Missouri was $42,640. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $56,625.
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Washington County is 0.544. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Washington County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Missouri has widened from about 23% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and was narrowest at 19% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,508 since 2009.
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