1st Advantage Mortgage41% of Washington County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $83,449 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Washington County, and confirm each one's Vermont license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Washington County
- Where Washington County households live
- What stands out in Washington County
- Earnings across Washington County households
- Washington County industries and commutes
- Places inside Washington County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Washington County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Washington County borrowers
- Steps before you apply in Washington County
- Verifying a lender from Washington County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Washington County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Washington County's population at 60,017; only 2 of Vermont's 14 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 687 square miles, that is close to 87 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Washington County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Barre (8,412 people) heads the county's list of 24 Census places, 12 incorporated and 12 census-designated.
Where Washington County households live
$1,163 a month is the median gross rent in Washington County, 6% below the state. By the Census definition, 41% of Washington County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $315,000, a typical Washington County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 74%, renters 26%. Nationally, Washington County's $1,163 rent is 33% above the middle county.
| Washington County | Vermont | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,163/mo | $1,234/mo | 6% lower |
| Median home value | $315,000 | $316,600 | level |
| Owners | 74% | 73% | +0.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | -7.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | -2.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 5.3% | 5.9% | -0.6 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
What stands out in Washington County
- Few Vermont counties match Washington County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 41% here, 48% for the state, ranking the lowest of 14. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- On the uninsured rate, Washington County sits near the bottom of Vermont at 3.1%, the lowest of 14. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
- The share of workers who work from home: 19.1% in Washington County. Only 1 of 14 Vermont counties are higher. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
Earnings across Washington County households
Washington County households have a median income of $83,449 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 14 in Vermont.
| Household income | Washington County | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | -0.9 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. Washington County counts about 5,195 residents below the poverty line, 8.7% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $83,449 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Washington County industries and commutes
Top Washington County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 27%; second, retail trade, 10%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 9% locally and 5% for Vermont. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Washington County. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Washington County | Difference from Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -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.
Places inside Washington County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Washington County residents live in one of the 24. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $54,273 in Waterbury to $114,483 in East Barre. Rent is cheapest in Moretown ($838) and steepest in Warren ($1,750). No Washington County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 24.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barre | city | 8,412 | $65,625 | $1,093 | 7 mi |
| Montpelier | city | 8,014 | $81,030 | $1,302 | 2 mi |
| Northfield | CDP | 3,766 | $60,789 | $997 | 9 mi |
| Berlin | town | 2,880 | $86,691 | $1,169 | 5 mi |
| Middlesex | town | 1,943 | $109,632 | $1,333 | 3 mi |
| Waterbury | CDP | 1,753 | $54,273 | $866 | 8 mi |
| Calais | town | 1,713 | $100,625 | $1,408 | 9 mi |
| Warren | town | 1,585 | $86,905 | $1,750 | 17 mi |
| Duxbury | town | 1,548 | $105,208 | $1,318 | 12 mi |
| Moretown | town | 1,532 | $104,423 | $838 | 5 mi |
| South Barre | CDP | 1,346 | $78,050 | $1,609 | 10 mi |
| Fayston | town | 1,342 | $110,250 | $1,654 | 14 mi |
| East Barre | CDP | 1,017 | $114,483 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Roxbury | town | 942 | $73,214 | $950 | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Washington County's, from 22 to 42 miles away. Chittenden County leads the group on income ($96,759), Caledonia County trails ($69,970), and Washington County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
| Orange County, VT | 22 mi | $82,232 | $1,173/mo | 83% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 23 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 26 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 28 mi | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Addison County, VT | 31 mi | $89,639 | $1,177/mo | 79% |
| Orleans County, VT | 42 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
Washington County residents: age, schooling, coverage
48% of Washington County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.1%, against 3.9% for Vermont.
| Residents | Washington County | Difference from Vermont | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.1% | +4.3 pts | +26.0 pts |
| Work from home | 19.1% | +2.2 pts | +10.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | -1.5 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | -1.4 pts | -4.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | -0.8 pts | -4.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | -0.8 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Median age | 43.8 | +0.7 yrs | +2.3 yrs |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | -0.1 pts | +0.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Washington County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Debt-to-income at Washington County's medians
DTI math using Washington County medians ($83,449 income, $1,163 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, Washington County: $6,954
- Rent at the median, $1,163, takes 17% of that
- $1,619: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,163, 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.
- 41% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Washington County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Steps before you apply in Washington County
Quick steps for Washington County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Vermont.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Verifying a lender from Washington County
Consumer lenders serving Washington County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Vermont that is the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Vermont: Vermont personal loans.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Washington County rank on income in Vermont?
4th of 14, with a median of $83,449. The state median is $81,203.
Can a Washington County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,163 median rent and $6,954 median monthly income, rent alone uses 17%; add other debts before a new payment.
What are the biggest places in Washington County?
By population: Barre, Montpelier, Northfield, Berlin, Middlesex. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Are Washington County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Washington County residents?
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Vermont; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.