Washington County, Iowa Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Washington County, Iowa, 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, Iowa. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Washington County, Iowa. The estimated population of Washington County, Iowa is 22,525 people, with a median age of 40.2.

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
22,525
+1.92%
+1.95%
2020
22,100
 0% -
2019
22,100
 -0.19% -
2018
22,143
+0.22%
-
2017
22,095
 - -

Population of Washington County, Iowa 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
90.1%
91.5%
 -1.53%
Black/African American
0.6%
0.9%
 -33.33%
Native
0.1%
0.3%
 -66.67%
Hispanic
6.8%
5.9%
 +15.25%
Asian
0.5%
0.6%
 -16.67%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.8%
0.9%
 +100.00%
Other
0%
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, Iowa 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 40.2 -0.74% 39.5 -1.25% 40.7 -0.49%
2020 40.5 +0.5% 40 +3.09% 40.9 -1.68%
2019 40.3 -1.23% 38.8 -2.27% 41.6 -0.48%
2018 40.8 0% 39.7 +2.58% 41.8 -2.11%
2017 40.8 - 38.7 - 42.7 -

The median age of Washington County, Iowa 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 1,420 -3.98% 1,441 +2.18% 1,364 1,470
10 to 19 1,761 +2.12% 1,375 +9.26% 1,796 1,498
20 to 29 1,196 +3.19% 1,155 +10.61% 1,216 1,282
30 to 39 1,262 -0.92% 1,161 +14.03% 1,248 1,331
40 to 49 1,298 +2.4% 1,341 -5.71% 1,321 1,266
50 to 59 1,661 -11.37% 1,636 -2.78% 1,477 1,586
60 to 69 1,214 +10.96% 1,282 0.52% 1,340 1,278
70+ 1,254 +9.88% 1,638 +2.38% 1,378 1,674

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Washington County, Iowa is $66,908.00.

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
    $54,485.00
  • 25 to 44
    $73,636.00
  • 45 to 64
    $83,099.00
  • 65 and over
    $47,717.00

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, Iowa is currently $79,616.00.

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.

3.99% 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
    12.51%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    24.00%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    20.42%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.82%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.26%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.00%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.99%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Washington County is $32,070.00.

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, Iowa, 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
    8.91%
  • Bachelor's degree
    26.15%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.84%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    51.86%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.24%

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 17,632.

Of those people, a total of 68.80% 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 67.00%.

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 1,235 53.50% 1.80%
20 to 24 years 1,145 83.50% 5.30%
25 to 29 years 1,353 87.10% 1.90%
30 to 34 years 1,209 88.30% 4.50%
35 to 44 years 2,737 90.50% 4.20%
45 to 54 years 2,655 90.60% 2.50%
55 to 59 years 1,628 81.80% 0.20%
60 to 64 years 1,421 66.80% 1.50%
65 to 74 years 2,380 33.80% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,869 16.50% 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 16,594 68.20% 2.50%
Black or African American 125 55.20% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 28 78.60% 0.00%
Asian 113 94.70% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5 100.00% 0.00%
Other 440 83.20% 5.70%
Two or more races 327 75.50% 4.20%
Hispanic or Latino 957 82.20% 6.40%
Not Hispanic or Latino 16,191 68.00% 2.30%

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 11,807, with median earnings of $37,773.00.

Women in Washington County, Iowa earning approximately 73.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 11,807 $37,773.00
Male 6,337 $42,693.00
Female 5,470 $31,480.00

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 1,165 $56,701.00
Business and Financial 530 $60,156.00
Computer and Mathematical 211 $42,382.00
Architecture and Engineering 111 $52,917.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 88 $81,250.00
Community and Social Service 146 $49,500.00
Legal 58 $39,200.00
Educational and Library 677 $40,306.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 182 $22,123.00
Healthcare Practitioners 842 $47,727.00
Healthcare Support 420 $26,852.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 58 $47,000.00
Law Enforcement 25 $43,920.00
Food Preparation and Serving 640 $15,478.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 452 $35,052.00
Personal Care and Service 494 $18,333.00
Sales 987 $31,676.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,246 $34,839.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 349 $27,601.00
Construction and Extraction 839 $38,892.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 513 $47,250.00
Production 726 $40,478.00
Transportation and Material Moving 583 $44,410.00

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 785 $62,396.00 380 $55,703.00
Business and Financial 225 $72,396.00 305 $45,938.00
Computer and Mathematical 156 $41,509.00 55 $79,554.00
Architecture and Engineering 74 $67,222.00 37 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 78 $83,750.00 10 $44,500.00
Community and Social Service 54 $45,714.00 92 $52,845.00
Legal 16 $0.00 42 $38,400.00
Educational and Library 193 $65,781.00 484 $21,633.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 59 $80,644.00 123 $20,873.00
Healthcare Practitioners 174 $76,000.00 668 $47,051.00
Healthcare Support 37 $31,354.00 383 $26,551.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 54 $46,833.00 4 $0.00
Law Enforcement 12 $0.00 13 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 319 $16,322.00 321 $12,276.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 228 $39,722.00 224 $11,786.00
Personal Care and Service 117 $3,973.00 377 $21,174.00
Sales 509 $37,228.00 478 $25,188.00
Office and Administrative Support 220 $61,250.00 1,026 $33,220.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 277 $29,764.00 72 $23,906.00
Construction and Extraction 792 $39,205.00 47 $24,676.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 510 $46,500.00 3 $0.00
Production 530 $42,022.00 196 $24,125.00
Transportation and Material Moving 555 $44,976.00 28 $27,917.00

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 8,833 households in Washington County, with an average household size of 2.51 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 6,038 families in Washington County with an average family size of 3 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 4,748 454 836 2,795
Average Household Size 3.06 3.28 3.42 1.18
Total Families 4,748 454 836 0
Average Household Size 3.04 2.71 2.93 0

Poverty

Of the 6,038 families in Washington County, 5.10% 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 9,603 housing units in Washington County, Iowa.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 8,833 91.98%
Vacant 770 8.02%

24.54% of the total 9,603 housing units in Washington County are rental units. This is approximately 2,357 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 6,240 are occupied by the owner - or 64.98% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Washington County is $809.00.

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
    236
  • Less than $500
    316
  • $500 to $999
    1,438
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    534
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    39
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    21
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    9
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Washington County is $159,200.00.

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
    500
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,012
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,377
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    998
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,394
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    647
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    278
  • $1,000,000 or more
    34

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
    3,779
  • 1940 to 1949
    473
  • 1950 to 1959
    596
  • 1960 to 1969
    937
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,140
  • 1980 to 1989
    493
  • 1990 to 1999
    893
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,062
  • 2010 to 2013
    229
  • 2014 or later
    1

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
    373
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,356
  • 2 vehicles available
    3,405
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,699

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.

21.6 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
    1,304
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    2,311
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    878
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,233
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,274
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    604
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    974
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    389
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    535
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    655
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    301
  • 90 or more minutes
    290

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Washington County, Iowa 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, Iowa

We have data for 22 places in Washington County, Iowa. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.