1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of Washington County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $77,825. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Washington County, TX: the basics
- Household income in Washington County
- The Washington County job picture
- Renting and owning in Washington County
- Counties near Washington County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
- People and households in Washington County
- Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
- Room for a loan payment in Washington County
- Lender oversight for Washington County
- Checklist for Washington County applicants
- More guides for Washington County
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County, TX: the basics
Roughly 36,647 residents live in Washington County, Texas, 86th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 604 square miles, that is close to 61 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Brenham is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 18,641 people (51% of the county total).
Household income in Washington County
The median household income in Washington County is $77,825, close to the statewide $78,476. In the state ranking that is 43rd of 254.
| Yearly household income | Washington County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | +1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | -2.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. 13.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Washington County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 25% locally and 22% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Washington County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 76% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Washington County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -5.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Washington County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,165 in Washington County versus $1,403 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. Home values center on $288,100, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Measure | Washington County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,165/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $288,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
Counties near Washington County
Distances run center to center, from Burleson County at 23 miles out to Lee County at 35. Income ranges from $58,553 in Brazos County to $80,397 in Waller County; 1 of these neighbors top Washington County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $77,825 | $1,165/mo | 70% |
| Burleson County, TX | 23 mi | $70,000 | $1,063/mo | 82% |
| Austin County, TX | 24 mi | $75,789 | $1,137/mo | 77% |
| Waller County, TX | 29 mi | $80,397 | $1,169/mo | 72% |
| Brazos County, TX | 31 mi | $58,553 | $1,193/mo | 47% |
| Grimes County, TX | 34 mi | $69,803 | $1,069/mo | 80% |
| Lee County, TX | 35 mi | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 51% of Washington County residents live in one of the 2. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brenham | city | 18,641 | $65,112 | $1,157 | 4 mi |
| Burton | city | 174 | $76,250 | $983 | 12 mi |
People and households in Washington County
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 14.5%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Washington County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Washington County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 11.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Washington County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 14% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Washington County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Washington County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $77,825 a year is $6,485 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,165)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,335 total minus rent leaves $1,170
If your rent is above $1,165, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Washington County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Washington County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Checklist for Washington County applicants
A short checklist for Washington County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Washington County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Washington County earn?
The median is $77,825; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Washington County rent compare with Texas?
$1,165 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 17% below.
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 Brenham, Burton.
Will a Washington County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Washington County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.