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Washington County, MD: population growth, jobs and income

Washington County gained 591 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).

Washington County had an estimated 157,731 residents in 2025, up 2.0% (3,032 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Maryland as a whole (+1.4%), and the 14th fastest growth of 24 counties in Maryland.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Washington County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Washington County, ranked against Maryland and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,147/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes6.7%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months1872025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 586 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 61,729 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 4.3% in 2025, 0.5 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 354 new homes in 2025, or 2.2 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $77,747 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +22.4% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,283rd.

Part of the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro area.

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Washington County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
2025157,731+591
2024157,140+1,703
2023155,437+934
2022154,503+78
2021154,425−274
2020154,699–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Washington County

Washington County grew by 3,032 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+2,839).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths−135−1,228
International migrationfrom and to other countries+138+1,474
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+586+2,839
Census adjustmentbalancing residual+2−53
Total change+591+3,032

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn MarylandAmong U.S. counties
Population growth14th of 241,283rd of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents10th of 241,262nd of 3,108
Private-sector job growth10th of 241,597th of 3,092
Median household income17th of 24680th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate17th of 241,912th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents11th of 241,427th of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Washington County, MD as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Neighbouring counties

Over 2020–25, Washington County's population change (+2.0%) was ahead of 2 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 6.

4 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Washington County's $77,747 (2020–24).

Washington County, MD and its 8 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Washington County, MD This county157,731+2.0%3.72.2$77,747
Jefferson County, WV63,102+9.2%27.421.0$98,806
Berkeley County, WV139,522+13.7%22.88.2$80,815
Frederick County, MD302,883+11.0%7.33.9$122,002
Loudoun County, VA449,749+6.4%−0.33.5$181,765
Franklin County, PA160,652+3.0%6.16.4$77,003
Fulton County, PA14,483−0.7%1.81.2$65,836
Morgan County, WV18,027+5.5%17.67.2$72,179
Allegany County, MD66,848−1.6%3.20.5$59,603

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 24 Maryland counties · Every state

Questions

Is Washington County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 2.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 3,032 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Maryland as a whole changed +1.4% over the same years. That ranks 14th of 24 counties in Maryland for population growth.

How many people moved to Washington County?

On net, about 586 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Washington County?

It averaged 4.3% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Washington County?

About 157,731 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Washington County?

Private employers there had 61,729 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Maryland

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Maryland county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Washington County data alerts

Email me when Washington County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Washington County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.