Washington County, MD Local Data & Statistics

State: MD

Total population: 155,709 Household income: $77,747 Rent: $1,147

Overview

Total population

155,709

Rent

$1,147

Year built

1974

Household income

$77,747

Per capita income

$39,035

Poverty rate

12.4%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Maryland

Total population

155,709

Adults over 25

109,209

Total households

59,818

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$77,747

Per capita income

$39,035

Poverty rate

12.4%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Rent over 30% of income

44.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,147

Year built

1974

Households that rent

33.2%

Households that own

66.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

74.9%

Black

11.6%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

9.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.6%

Commute time to work

29 mins

Work from home

12.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29.4%

High school graduate or GED

35.8%

Some college or associate degree

10.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

24.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Washington County, MD with: Hagerstown Metro Area, MD-WV Maryland United States

Washington County, MD

Total population155,709

Rent$1,147

Year built1974

Household income$77,747

Per capita income$39,035

Poverty rate12.4%

Unemployment rate2.9%

Hagerstown Metro Area, MD-WV

Total population302,649

Rent$1,159

Year built1986

Household income$78,802

Per capita income$38,827

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Maryland State

Total population6,206,011

Rent$1,705

Year built1979

Household income$103,678

Per capita income$52,979

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyWashington County, MD	Metro AreaHagerstown Metro Area, MD-WV	StateMaryland	CountryUnited States
Total population	155,709	302,649	6,206,011	334,922,499
Rent	$1,147	$1,159	$1,705	$1,413
Year built	1974	1986	1979	1980
Household income	$77,747	$78,802	$103,678	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,035	$38,827	$52,979	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.4%	11.8%	9.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	3.3%	3%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Washington County, MD

Washington County is located in Maryland .

Rent & Income

In Washington County, the monthly rent is $1,147 and household income is $77,747. Rent is lower than both Maryland and the U.S., and household income is lower than Maryland and similar to the U.S. The poverty rate is 12.4%, which is higher than Maryland and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 33.2% of households. About 44.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 24.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is similar to Maryland and lower than the national rate.

Washington County, MD — Rent vs Household Income

Washington County, MD — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Washington County, MD (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,147 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Washington County, MD

Annual Household Income: $77,747

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Washington County, MD

Estimated Rate: 12.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Washington County, MD

In Washington County, MD, households that rent: 19,882 (33.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	19,882	33.2%
Owner-Occupied	39,936	66.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Washington County, MD

In Washington County, MD, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,847 (44.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,847	44.5%
Other renter households	11,035	55.5%
Total renter households	19,882	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Washington County, MD

Less than High School: 32,142 people (29.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 39,087 people (35.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 11,615 people (10.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26,365 people (24.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 109,209

📊 Unemployment Rate in Washington County, MD

Estimated Rate: 2.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.