Washington County, North Carolina Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Washington County, NC Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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C
Health Below averageLess healthy than 81% of counties in North Carolina
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D
Income Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in North Carolina
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F
Education Well below averageAmong the 5 least educated counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,812 | 10,724,323 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 25.6 | 199.1 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.77% | 0.97% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 48.2 | 37.7 | 37.3 |
| Households | 4,738 | 4,279,225 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Washington County declined by 16.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 10,812 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Washington County is Boomers, aged 61–79, at 23.8% of residents. That is 6.8 points above North Carolina as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 2,062 19.1% -2.8 pts
- Millennials 29–44 1,728 16.0% -5.4 pts
- Gen X 45–60 2,245 20.8% +0.2 pts
- Boomers 61–79 2,576 23.8% +6.8 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below North Carolina, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 51.8% of the people living in Washington County and men 48.2%.
- Women 51.8% North Carolina 51.1%
- Men 48.2% North Carolina 48.9%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in Washington County
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
Washington County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,154 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.14% | 5.20% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 12.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 40% lower than in North Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $112,321 | $278,288 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $742 | $1,227 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.0% | 66.6% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Washington County is about 12.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $742 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Washington County spend about 43 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 178 hours, about 7.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.4 | 21.9 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 42.7 | 43.7 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 178 | 182 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,517 | $5,645 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,054 | 8,330 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 468 | 1,609 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
North Carolina:
Macon County (17.2 min), Watauga County (17.2 min), Dare County (17.4 min).
Slowest:
Gates County (35.9 min), Currituck County (33.9 min), Tyrrell County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Washington County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in North Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Washington County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 31.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.25 | 2.44 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.5), Wake County (0.4), Durham County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hyde County (0.2), Greene County (0.2), Tyrrell County (0.2).
Health
Washington County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Washington County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.3 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.3% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.3% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.8), Wake County (0.8), Watauga County (0.8).
Lowest:
Robeson County (0.8), Lenoir County (0.8), Halifax County (0.8).
Washington County, NC Compared With Nearby Counties
How Washington County, NC compares with the 1 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, NC | 10,812 | $43,154 #2/2 | $112,321 #1/2 | 21.4 min #2/2 |
| Beaufort County, NC | 44,493 | $58,253 | $92,916 | 20.0 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Washington County, North Carolina.
How many people live in Washington County, North Carolina?
About 10,812 people live in Washington County, North Carolina, in 4,738 households of 2.2 people on average. The median age is 48.2, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 11 years.
Is Washington County, North Carolina mostly urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, Washington County, North Carolina has 26 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 30% of the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in Washington County, North Carolina?
The median home costs 2.6 times the median household income ($112,321 against $43,154), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $742 a month takes about 21% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in Washington County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Washington County, North Carolina is 12.9%, well above the U.S. rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
How educated are people in Washington County, North Carolina?
13.5% of adults in Washington County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 7), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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