Washington County, Alabama Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Washington County, Alabama, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Washington County, Alabama. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Washington County, Alabama. The estimated population of Washington County, Alabama is 15,574 people, with a median age of 43.9.

We can look at the total population in Washington County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
15,574
 -4.66% -7.00%
2020
16,336
 -1.24% -
2019
16,541
 -0.61% -
2018
16,643
 -0.62% -
2017
16,746
 - -

Population of Washington County, Alabama by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
65.1%
65.1%
 0.00%
Black/African American
23.8%
24.6%
 -3.25%
Native
7.2%
7.5%
 -4.00%
Hispanic
1.1%
0.5%
 +120.00%
Asian
0.1%
0.9%
 -88.89%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.6%
1.3%
 +100.00%
Other
0.2%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Washington County, Alabama by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 43.9 +0.23% 43.1 +1.65% 46.2 -0.22%
2020 43.8 +0.23% 42.4 -1.4% 46.3 +3.81%
2019 43.7 +0.23% 43 +2.14% 44.6 -1.76%
2018 43.6 +0.23% 42.1 +6.31% 45.4 -2.16%
2017 43.5 - 39.6 - 46.4 -

The median age of Washington County, Alabama gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 644 +33.21% 726 -0.91% 878 711
10 to 19 1,705 -38.45% 1,165 -18.94% 1,123 941
20 to 29 901 +24.61% 769 +11.98% 1,121 858
30 to 39 956 -36.92% 883 -14.69% 633 757
40 to 49 912 -1.44% 1,142 -16.7% 880 956
50 to 59 1,321 -7.53% 1,519 -34.48% 1,210 1,035
60 to 69 1,086 -10.2% 1,090 +3.66% 942 1,124
70+ 817 +43.41% 1,110 +6.53% 1,230 1,175

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Washington County, Alabama is $44,512.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Washington County.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $54,983.00
  • 45 to 64
    $54,955.00
  • 65 and over
    $32,845.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Washington County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Washington County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Washington County, Alabama is currently $72,183.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

7.34% of households in Washington County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Washington County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    31.65%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    22.18%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    10.89%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    10.28%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10.87%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.79%
  • $200,000 or more
    7.34%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Washington County is $28,585.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Washington County by the total population of Washington County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Washington County, Alabama, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Washington County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    8.63%
  • Bachelor's degree
    10.43%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.96%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    66.29%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.69%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Washington County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Washington County over the age of 16 is 12,852.

Of those people, a total of 44.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Washington County is 41.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 931 7.80% 52.10%
20 to 24 years 1,090 76.90% 12.90%
25 to 29 years 889 75.60% 5.10%
30 to 34 years 672 76.80% 8.30%
35 to 44 years 1,617 62.00% 4.70%
45 to 54 years 2,065 64.70% 5.80%
55 to 59 years 1,117 28.70% 0.60%
60 to 64 years 1,256 38.40% 2.70%
65 to 74 years 2,156 16.70% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,059 8.40% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Washington County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 8,435 48.10% 3.30%
Black or African American 3,120 33.30% 10.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1,078 44.70% 25.50%
Asian 18 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 25 0.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 176 63.60% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 104 0.00% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 8,352 48.60% 3.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Washington County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Washington County is 5,326, with median earnings of $40,940.00.

Women in Washington County, Alabama earning approximately 59.00% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 5,326 $40,940.00
Male 3,056 $46,500.00
Female 2,270 $27,412.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 501 $93,542.00
Business and Financial 407 $33,145.00
Computer and Mathematical 35 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $107,986.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 79 $70,179.00
Community and Social Service 85 $38,950.00
Legal 64 $105,662.00
Educational and Library 285 $56,920.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 5 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 339 $37,355.00
Healthcare Support 146 $7,163.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 61 $58,233.00
Law Enforcement 59 $36,513.00
Food Preparation and Serving 187 $10,764.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 262 $30,833.00
Personal Care and Service 76 $9,521.00
Sales 242 $31,063.00
Office and Administrative Support 541 $27,157.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 79 $111,146.00
Construction and Extraction 297 $43,363.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 283 $67,961.00
Production 418 $66,220.00
Transportation and Material Moving 530 $45,198.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 137 $102,109.00 364 $92,250.00
Business and Financial 263 $14,368.00 144 $63,963.00
Computer and Mathematical 35 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $107,986.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 62 $63,636.00 17 $0.00
Community and Social Service 44 $38,800.00 41 $42,917.00
Legal 45 $106,360.00 19 $0.00
Educational and Library 158 $68,596.00 127 $45,208.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 5 $0.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 26 $0.00 313 $36,599.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 146 $7,163.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 61 $58,233.00
Law Enforcement 22 $59,167.00 37 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 74 $15,833.00 113 $7,465.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 174 $35,816.00 88 $21,250.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 76 $9,521.00
Sales 150 $39,286.00 92 $4,459.00
Office and Administrative Support 132 $84,414.00 409 $25,697.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 74 $111,250.00 5 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 297 $43,363.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 283 $67,961.00 0 $0.00
Production 371 $68,281.00 47 $17,596.00
Transportation and Material Moving 485 $45,603.00 45 $30,759.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 5,261 households in Washington County, with an average household size of 2.94 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 3,882 families in Washington County with an average family size of 3.53 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,960 262 660 1,379
Average Household Size 3.26 3.5 5.03 1.13
Total Families 2,960 262 660 0
Average Household Size 3.23 3.48 4.91 0

Poverty

Of the 3,882 families in Washington County, 15.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Washington County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 7,793 housing units in Washington County, Alabama.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 5,261 67.51%
Vacant 2,532 32.49%

3.73% of the total 7,793 housing units in Washington County are rental units. This is approximately 291 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,806 are occupied by the owner - or 61.67% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Washington County is $672.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Washington County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    164
  • Less than $500
    92
  • $500 to $999
    191
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    8
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    0
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Washington County is $111,600.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Washington County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,390
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    910
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    395
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    943
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    716
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    403
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    40
  • $1,000,000 or more
    9

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Washington County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Washington County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    146
  • 1940 to 1949
    328
  • 1950 to 1959
    505
  • 1960 to 1969
    663
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,530
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,417
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,691
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,082
  • 2010 to 2013
    431
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Washington County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    186
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,299
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,778
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,998

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Washington County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Washington County that commute to work in a particular way.

34 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Washington County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    303
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    212
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    476
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    617
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    378
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    169
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    817
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    151
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    140
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    949
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    506
  • 90 or more minutes
    210

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Washington County, Alabama in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Washington County, Alabama

We have data for 18 places in Washington County, Alabama. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.