1st Advantage Mortgage54% of Washington County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $107,772 (ACS 2020-24). 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, OR: the basics
- Washington County's most unusual numbers
- The Washington County job picture
- The $107,772 median and what sits around it
- Homes and rents, Washington County
- The communities that make up Washington County
- The counties around Washington County
- Budget math at the Washington County median
- Reading the Washington County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Washington County residents
- Checklist for Washington County applicants
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County, OR: the basics
Roughly 603,947 residents live in Washington County, Oregon, 2nd by population among the state's 36 counties and county equivalents. Washington County spans 724 square miles; with 603,947 people, that is 833.9 per square mile. Washington County counts toward the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA include it. Hillsboro is the biggest of its 29 Census places, at roughly 108,231 people (18% of the county total).
Washington County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 35 county-level areas in Oregon, these are the Washington County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Oregon counties match Washington County on the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 54% here, 41% for the state, ranking the highest of 36. Big incomes invite big loans; borrow only what you need.
- On median gross rent, Washington County sits near the top of Oregon at $1,849/mo, the highest of 36. Rent this high leaves less room in a debt-to-income test.
- Median household income: $107,772 in Washington County, the highest of 36 in Oregon. A high county median can hide a wide spread, so budget from your own pay.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Washington County sits near the bottom of Oregon at 3%, the lowest of 36. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
The Washington County job picture
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 61% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 13,218 Washington County households, 5.6%, have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Washington County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -3.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.6% | +6.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | +1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The $107,772 median and what sits around it
$107,772 is the median household income for Washington County, set against $83,011 for Oregon. No county in Oregon posts a higher median.
| Households earning | Washington County | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.1% | -7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.0% | -5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.3% | +5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.6% | +6.9 pts |
13% under $35,000 and 54% at $100,000 or more: that is the Washington County income split. Poverty rate, Washington County: 8.1%; Oregon: 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.428 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Homes and rents, Washington County
$1,849 a month is the median gross rent in Washington County, 21% above the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $588,000, a typical Washington County house costs 5.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 61%, renters 39%. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Home costs | Washington County | Oregon | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 1.9% | 7.1% | -5.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 31% | -4.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | -3.2 pts |
| Owners | 61% | 63% | -2.5 pts |
| Median home value | $588,000 | $477,600 | 23% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,849/mo | $1,525/mo | 21% higher |
The communities that make up Washington County
573,029 of Washington County's 603,947 residents live in its 29 Census places (95%); the 14 largest are listed. Incomes vary by place: $212,898 at the median in Rivergrove, $63,684 in King City. Rent is cheapest in Forest Grove ($1,460) and steepest in Rivergrove ($3,501). 3 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | city | 108,231 | $106,409 | $1,978 | 8 mi |
| Beaverton | city | 97,812 | $98,622 | $1,826 | 15 mi |
| Tigard | city | 56,011 | $108,823 | $1,782 | 18 mi |
| Aloha | CDP | 52,389 | $101,934 | $1,896 | 12 mi |
| Bethany | CDP | 33,106 | $167,735 | $2,245 | 13 mi |
| Tualatin | city | 27,763 | $104,043 | $1,806 | 20 mi |
| Wilsonville | city | 26,974 | $96,236 | $1,878 | 23 mi |
| Forest Grove | city | 26,529 | $87,933 | $1,460 | 2 mi |
| Sherwood | city | 20,307 | $109,966 | $2,131 | 18 mi |
| Cedar Mill | CDP | 19,471 | $164,079 | $1,882 | 14 mi |
| Cornelius | city | 14,255 | $96,273 | $1,573 | 3 mi |
| Oak Hills | CDP | 11,131 | $127,179 | $1,935 | 12 mi |
| Bull Mountain | CDP | 9,865 | $165,426 | $1,931 | 16 mi |
| Rockcreek | CDP | 9,223 | $107,101 | $1,689 | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Washington County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Washington County's, from 24 to 44 miles away. Washington County's $107,772 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $69,105 (Tillamook County) to $97,536 (Clark County). The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $107,772 | $1,849/mo | 61% |
| Yamhill County, OR | 24 mi | $90,063 | $1,480/mo | 69% |
| Columbia County, OR | 27 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Tillamook County, OR | 33 mi | $69,105 | $1,246/mo | 74% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 33 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
| Clark County, WA | 33 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Clatsop County, OR | 44 mi | $71,822 | $1,180/mo | 63% |
Budget math at the Washington County median
Washington County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $8,981 gross per month ($107,772 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,849, which is 21% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,384 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,013 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Washington County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Reading the Washington County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Washington County borrowers.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 54% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Washington County rent burden. 49% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
48% of Washington County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 5.2% of Washington County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Washington County | Gap to Oregon | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.5% | +10.7 pts | +25.3 pts |
| Work from home | 24.4% | +5.4 pts | +15.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | -3.9 pts | -5.1 pts |
| Median age | 38.1 | -2.3 yrs | -3.4 yrs |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | -1.5 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | -0.9 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -0.9 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | -0.7 pts | -2.7 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Who licenses lenders for Washington County residents
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Oregon license. Nationally, Washington County residents can file with the CFPB. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Washington County applicants
Quick steps for Washington County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Oregon license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Keep exploring
Guides that cover parts of Washington County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$107,772 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,011 for Oregon. It ranks 1st of 36 in the state.
Is Washington County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,849 against $1,525 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live near Hillsboro. Which guide is mine?
This Washington County guide, unless your town is linked to its own city guide above.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Washington County or elsewhere in Oregon, the same rules apply.
What agency protects Washington County borrowers?
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.