1st Advantage MortgageThe median Washington County household earns $64,552, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 in brief
- How Washington County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Washington County
- Earnings across Washington County households
- Washington County communities by population
- How Washington County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
- Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Washington County borrowers
- Checklist for Washington County applicants
- Virginia rules that apply in Washington County
- Beyond Washington County
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County in brief
Roughly 53,926 residents live in Washington County, Virginia, 35th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 96.1 residents per square mile across 561 square miles of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Abingdon is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 8,330 people (15% of the county total).
How Washington County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Washington County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Relative to Virginia (7%), manufacturing is 5 points bigger in Washington County (13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 30% of Washington County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Washington County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | +5.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -9.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Washington County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Washington County
$854 a month is the median gross rent in Washington County, 46% below the state. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $214,000, about 3.3 times the median household income. In Washington County, 76% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1983. Nationally, Washington County's $854 rent is 3% below the middle county.
| Washington County | Virginia | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 49% | -18.1 pts |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | +8.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $854/mo | $1,579/mo | 46% lower |
| Median home value | $214,000 | $383,700 | 44% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | -3.2 pts |
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.
Earnings across Washington County households
Washington County households have a median income of $64,552 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 79th of 133 in Virginia.
| Yearly household income | Washington County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +9.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +8.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -11.1 pts |
28% under $35,000 and 29% at $100,000 or more: that is the Washington County income split. Washington County counts about 5,968 residents below the poverty line, 11.1% of the population. None of these numbers decides a Washington County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Washington County communities by population
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Washington County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 13,789 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. Emory has the highest median household income on the list ($111,667) and Damascus the lowest ($29,006), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $595 in Emory to $921 in Meadowview. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abingdon | town | 8,330 | $54,544 | $838 | 3 mi |
| Glade Spring | town | 2,135 | $81,298 | $888 | 10 mi |
| Emory | CDP | 1,419 | $111,667 | $595 | 7 mi |
| Meadowview | CDP | 871 | $74,318 | $921 | 4 mi |
| Damascus | town | 772 | $29,006 | $730 | 12 mi |
| Mendota | CDP | 262 | $46,012 | n/a | 20 mi |
How Washington County compares with nearby counties
Bristol city is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ashe County, is 33 miles off. Washington County's $64,552 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $49,883 (Smyth County) to $58,807 (Sullivan County). Some neighbors are in North Carolina and Tennessee. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Washington County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $64,552 | $854/mo | 76% |
| Bristol city, VA | 15 mi | $50,404 | $801/mo | 64% |
| Russell County, VA | 15 mi | $50,012 | $653/mo | 76% |
| Johnson County, TN | 21 mi | $53,129 | $674/mo | 77% |
| Smyth County, VA | 24 mi | $49,883 | $731/mo | 71% |
| Sullivan County, TN | 25 mi | $58,807 | $889/mo | 72% |
| Ashe County, NC | 33 mi | $56,866 | $859/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Washington County's medians:
- $5,379 a month: gross income for a household at the Washington County median
- Less median rent of $854, which is 16% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,298 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Washington County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
27% of Washington County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Uninsured, Washington County: 6.7%; Virginia: 6.9%.
| Residents | Washington County | Difference from Virginia | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.7% | -15.5 pts | +4.5 pts |
| Work from home | 8.5% | -9.8 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Median age | 46.9 | +7.9 yrs | +5.4 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -1.5 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | -1.3 pts | -1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | +1.2 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | +1.2 pts | -2.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | -0.2 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
What the numbers mean for Washington County borrowers
A few patterns in the Washington County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile homes in Washington County. At 13% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Consolidating cards in Washington County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Checklist for Washington County applicants
A short checklist for Washington County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Virginia rules that apply in Washington County
Washington County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Beyond Washington County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Washington County household make?
About $64,552 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Virginia median.
How much is rent in Washington County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $854 a month; 30% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
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 Abingdon, Glade Spring, Emory, Meadowview, Damascus and 1 more.
Will a Washington County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Virginia 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 Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.