1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Washington County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $63,603. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Washington County, OH: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Washington County
- Renting and owning in Washington County
- The Washington County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Washington County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
- People and households in Washington County
- Lender oversight for Washington County
- Checklist for Washington County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County, OH: the basics
Roughly 58,978 residents live in Washington County, Ohio, 43rd by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 632 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 93 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Washington County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (7 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Marietta, with about 13,203 residents, or 22% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Washington County
Half of Washington County households take in less than $63,603 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Ohio median of $71,389. Only 54 Ohio counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Washington County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -3.8 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. 13.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Washington County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $852 in Washington County versus $1,034 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $185,600, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Median construction year: 1973.
| Measure | Washington County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $852/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,600 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 8% | 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.
The Washington County job picture
The biggest employer of Washington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 27% locally and 24% for Ohio. The survey's unemployment rate for Washington County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Washington County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.2% | +0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Washington County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 28,728 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Devola has the highest median household income on the list ($99,702) and Matamoras (New Matamoras) the lowest ($17,098), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $597 in Matamoras (New Matamoras) to $977 in Devola. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marietta | city | 13,203 | $47,873 | $861 | 3 mi |
| Belpre | city | 6,654 | $54,592 | $867 | 13 mi |
| Devola | CDP | 2,688 | $99,702 | $977 | 2 mi |
| Beverly | village | 1,625 | $45,926 | $753 | 10 mi |
| Newport | CDP | 1,180 | $91,898 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Reno | CDP | 1,040 | $43,786 | $764 | 8 mi |
| Matamoras (New Matamoras) | village | 864 | $17,098 | $597 | 23 mi |
| Lowell | village | 556 | $46,313 | $826 | 6 mi |
| Waterford | CDP | 395 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Little Hocking | CDP | 167 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Vincent | CDP | 139 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Macksburg | village | 125 | $51,875 | $642 | 13 mi |
| Lower Salem | village | 92 | $79,219 | $1,611 | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 30 miles). Income ranges from $50,582 in Ritchie County to $60,932 in Pleasants County; none of these neighbors top Washington County's median. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $63,603 | $852/mo | 75% |
| Wood County, WV | 17 mi | $57,810 | $822/mo | 75% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 18 mi | $60,932 | $715/mo | 81% |
| Noble County, OH | 22 mi | $56,098 | $707/mo | 84% |
| Morgan County, OH | 23 mi | $59,351 | $742/mo | 79% |
| Monroe County, OH | 29 mi | $60,134 | $672/mo | 80% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 30 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
What a median Washington County budget can carry
How much room does a median Washington County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $63,603 a year is $5,300 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($852)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,279 total minus rent leaves $1,427
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
Based on the Washington County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Washington County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Washington County
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Washington County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Lender oversight for Washington County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Checklist for Washington County applicants
Steps that save money for Washington County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington County a high-income county?
Its $63,603 median ranks 55th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Washington County?
$852 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Washington County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Marietta, Belpre, Devola, Beverly, Newport and 8 more.
Can Washington County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Ohio county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Washington County check a lender's license?
With the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.