1st Advantage MortgageIn Washington County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $115,345 a year and the typical rent is $1,710. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Washington County
- Housing costs in Washington County
- Income in Washington County compared with Minnesota
- Work, industries and travel time in Washington County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
- Counties near Washington County
- A Washington County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
- Checklist for Washington County applicants
- Lender oversight for Washington County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Washington County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Washington County's population at 276,238; only 4 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. It covers 385 square miles of land, or about 718 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (25 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Woodbury, with about 78,305 residents, or 28% of the county.
Housing costs in Washington County
Renters in Washington County pay a median of $1,710 a month, 34% above the Minnesota figure of $1,280. By the Census definition, 51% of Washington County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $422,000, a typical Washington County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. Median construction year: 1992.
| Cost | Washington County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,710/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $422,000 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 3% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Washington County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Washington County compared with Minnesota
The median household income in Washington County is $115,345; statewide it is $89,062, so Washington County runs 30% above Minnesota as a whole.
| Band | Washington County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.6% | -6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.5% | -6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.1% | +5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.8% | +7.9 pts |
Some 11% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 58% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 5.1%, 4 points lower than the state's 9.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.426 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Washington County
The biggest employer of Washington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Washington County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Washington County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
The table lists the 14 largest of 25 Census places in Washington County, by population. Together all 25 hold about 263,185 people, so roughly 5% of residents live outside any named place. Dellwood has the highest median household income on the list ($225,000) and Landfall the lowest ($42,000), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Newport ($1,122) and steepest in Lake Elmo ($2,407). No Washington County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 25.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | city | 78,305 | $125,310 | $1,908 | 9 mi |
| Cottage Grove | city | 40,992 | $120,791 | $1,783 | 16 mi |
| Oakdale | city | 28,585 | $93,772 | $1,481 | 5 mi |
| Forest Lake | city | 20,729 | $92,944 | $1,421 | 15 mi |
| Stillwater | city | 19,355 | $105,853 | $1,622 | 3 mi |
| Hugo | city | 16,340 | $116,228 | $1,891 | 9 mi |
| Lake Elmo | city | 13,140 | $153,669 | $2,407 | 4 mi |
| Mahtomedi | city | 8,133 | $123,319 | $1,694 | 4 mi |
| St. Paul Park | city | 5,457 | $100,642 | $2,174 | 15 mi |
| Oak Park Heights | city | 4,756 | $82,476 | $1,443 | 4 mi |
| Newport | city | 4,754 | $71,979 | $1,122 | 12 mi |
| Grant | city | 3,950 | $150,875 | $2,195 | 3 mi |
| Scandia | city | 3,950 | $101,953 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Bayport | city | 3,905 | $125,893 | $2,028 | 6 mi |
Counties near Washington County
Ramsey County is closest, 10 miles from center to center; the sixth, Pierce County, is 31 miles off. Income ranges from $81,568 in Ramsey County to $106,318 in Dakota County; none of these neighbors top Washington County's median. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $115,345 | $1,710/mo | 81% |
| Ramsey County, MN | 10 mi | $81,568 | $1,329/mo | 61% |
| St. Croix County, WI | 22 mi | $103,046 | $1,271/mo | 78% |
| Anoka County, MN | 24 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Dakota County, MN | 27 mi | $106,318 | $1,548/mo | 75% |
| Hennepin County, MN | 29 mi | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
| Pierce County, WI | 31 mi | $92,109 | $1,044/mo | 75% |
A Washington County household budget, worked through
Here is the Washington County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $115,345 a year is $9,612 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,710, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,750 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Washington County's.
Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
49% of Washington County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.5%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| People and households | Washington County | Minnesota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.1% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Washington County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Washington County borrowers.
- Consolidation math. With 58% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Washington County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Washington County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Washington County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Washington County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Related local guides
The Minnesota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Washington County earn?
The median is $115,345; 58% earn $100,000 or more and 11% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Washington County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,710 against $1,280 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Woodbury?
Yes, along with the other 24 Census places in Washington County, such as Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Forest Lake.
Will a Washington County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Minnesota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Washington County?
Start with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.