Washington County, Virginia 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.
-
C
Washington County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,315 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,519 | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.1% | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.6% | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 31% lower than in Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Washington County (4.9%/yr) than in Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Washington County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Virginia average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Washington County, Virginia grew by 59.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,315 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington County
| Metric | Washington County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.537 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $57,070 | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,473 | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.3% | 20.3% | 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 0.537, lower than Virginia's 0.544, so income is more 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 15% more than women's income in Washington County, Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $265,895 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, Virginia has narrowed from about 26% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2011, and was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,647 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.5% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 721 people are unemployed in Washington County, Virginia.
The average commute time in Washington County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington County, Virginia has fallen from 6.1% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.5% in 2014.
Washington County, VA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Washington County, VA is the 2nd largest of the 5 counties compared here, 53,901 residents against a local median of 27,452. Where Washington County, VA breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 24% above the local median of $51,825 at $64,315. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 4.1%/yr, 18% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Washington County, VA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $9,233 on median household income, so Washington County, VA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Washington County, VA has the highest median household income of the 5 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, VA | 53,901 | $64,315 #1/5 | 4.9%/yr #2/5 | 3.0% #1/5 | 0.537 #3/5 |
| Russell County, VA | 25,530 | $50,007 | 3.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.543 |
| Johnson County, TN | 18,196 | $53,642 | 7.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.569 |
| Sullivan County, TN | 160,624 | $59,119 | 4.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.532 |
| Smyth County, VA | 29,374 | $49,886 | 3.2%/yr | 3.1% | 0.526 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington County, Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Virginia, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington County, Virginia.
How Rich Is Washington County, Virginia?
Washington County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,315, about 31% lower than the Virginia average of $93,527.
How fast is household income rising in Washington County, Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington County, Virginia rose 59%, from $40,414 to $64,315. Over the same years, income here outpaced Virginia as a whole: +59% against +55%.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington County, Virginia was $62,639, up 6% from $59,092 in 2022. The Virginia median that year was $91,420.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington County, Virginia was $50,949. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $64,315.
Is it hard to find a job in Washington County, Virginia?
Unemployment in Washington County, Virginia is only 3.0%, well below the Virginia rate of 4.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington County, Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Washington County is 0.537. 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, Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington County, Virginia has narrowed from about 26% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2011, and was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,647 since 2009.
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