1st Advantage MortgageWashington County households have a median income of $80,632 and median rent of $1,566 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 at a glance
- Income in Washington County compared with Utah
- Jobs and commutes in Washington County
- Washington County housing compared with Utah
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
- The counties around Washington County
- What a median Washington County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Washington County borrowers
- More Washington County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Washington County
- A Washington County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Washington County
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County at a glance
With an estimated 196,431 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Washington County ranks 5th of 29 in Utah for population. Land area is 2,428 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 81 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the St. George, UT metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 19 Census places inside Washington County, St. George leads by population with about 101,995; 15 of the 19 are incorporated.
Income in Washington County compared with Utah
Washington County households have a median income of $80,632 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 12th of 29 in Utah.
| Households earning | Washington County | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.3% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.6% | -4.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of Washington County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.8%, 1 point higher than the state's 8.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.443 here. A household earning below the $80,632 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Washington County
The biggest employer of Washington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Education and health care stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Washington County. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home.
| Where residents work | Washington County | Difference from Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.2% | -1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | -2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Washington County housing compared with Utah
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,566 in Washington County versus $1,496 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 57% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $510,700, about 6.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. The median year built is 2003.
| Cost | Washington County | Utah figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,566/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $510,700 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Washington County
19 Census places fall mainly inside Washington County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 191,274 residents, leaving about 3% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Central has the highest median household income on the list ($115,486) and La Verkin the lowest ($68,269), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Toquerville ($946) and steepest in Virgin ($2,094). None of the 19 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | city | 101,995 | $76,508 | $1,545 | 14 mi |
| Washington | city | 32,348 | $91,853 | $1,614 | 9 mi |
| Hurricane | city | 22,771 | $75,016 | $1,426 | 11 mi |
| Ivins | city | 9,998 | $78,089 | $1,771 | 12 mi |
| Santa Clara | city | 8,152 | $96,475 | $1,907 | 13 mi |
| La Verkin | city | 4,476 | $68,269 | $1,392 | 13 mi |
| Toquerville | city | 2,344 | $97,813 | $946 | 11 mi |
| Enterprise | city | 1,955 | $91,250 | $1,309 | 26 mi |
| Hildale | city | 1,372 | $78,523 | $1,495 | 32 mi |
| Apple Valley | town | 1,181 | $86,250 | $1,750 | 25 mi |
| Dammeron Valley | CDP | 877 | $114,188 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Virgin | town | 715 | $70,625 | $2,094 | 16 mi |
| Central | CDP | 660 | $115,486 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Leeds | town | 646 | $84,688 | $1,413 | 8 mi |
The counties around Washington County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (46 to 108 miles). None of the six report a higher median household income than Washington County; Beaver County is highest at $79,360 and Piute County lowest at $48,393. The list crosses into Arizona, Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $80,632 | $1,566/mo | 72% |
| Iron County, UT | 46 mi | $66,247 | $1,065/mo | 68% |
| Beaver County, UT | 77 mi | $79,360 | $981/mo | 81% |
| Lincoln County, NV | 80 mi | $72,307 | $919/mo | 75% |
| Kane County, UT | 92 mi | $77,092 | $1,072/mo | 80% |
| Piute County, UT | 105 mi | $48,393 | $950/mo | 95% |
| Mohave County, AZ | 108 mi | $57,684 | $1,091/mo | 74% |
What a median Washington County budget can carry
Washington County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,719 a month: gross income for a household at the Washington County median
- Rent at the median, $1,566, takes 23% of that
- $786: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $3,024 total minus rent leaves $1,458
If your rent is above $1,566, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Washington County borrowers
Based on the Washington County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Washington County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Strong incomes, long terms. 41% of Washington County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 57% of Washington County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Washington County figures
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.1%, against 8.4% for Utah.
| Indicator | Washington County | All of Utah | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.2% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Washington County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Washington County, check the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Utah: Utah personal loans.
A Washington County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Washington County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Utah license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Washington County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Washington County
The Utah guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington County a high-income county?
Its $80,632 median ranks 12th of 29 Utah counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Washington County rent compare with Utah?
$1,566 locally versus $1,496 for the state, 5% above.
Should Washington County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Washington County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
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 St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Ivins, Santa Clara and 14 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Washington County or elsewhere in Utah, the same rules apply.