CountyScore

Washington County

Illinois · IL

#45 in Illinois
65.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Washington County, Illinois

Solid performer above national median

Washington County's 63.2 score beats the national median of 50.0 by 26%, placing it in approximately the 63rd percentile nationally. This competitive national standing reflects strength in cost and income factors.

Slightly above Illinois average statewide

At 63.2, Washington County marginally surpasses Illinois' 62.1 state average by 1.1 points, placing it just above the state median. It maintains a competitive but not exceptional rank among Illinois counties.

Balanced cost, income, and tax profile

Washington offers a Cost Score of 80.5 (median home $149,800, rent $776/month), Income Score of 32.8, and median household income of $75,652—among the highest in this group. The Tax Score of 50.3 (1.847% effective rate) adds financial balance.

Housing values higher than comparable areas

Median home values at $149,800 are significantly higher than many peer counties, potentially limiting affordability despite reasonable cost scores. Unmeasured dimensions including safety, health, education, and environmental factors remain unknown.

Best for moderate-income suburban families

Washington County appeals to families seeking above-average incomes combined with moderate housing costs and balanced taxes. It's particularly suited to established workers who value stability and don't require rock-bottom affordability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax50.3Cost80.5SafetyComing SoonHealth77.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome32.8Risk44.9WaterComing Soon
🏛50.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼32.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤77.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡44.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Washington County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Garfield County
Colorado
65.2
Median income: $86,172
Effingham County
Georgia
65.2
Median income: $85,465
Kauai County
Hawaii
65.2
Median income: $93,612
Alexander County
Illinois
65.2
Median income: $43,523
Christian County
Illinois
65.2
Median income: $59,253

Deep Dives

Washington County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Washington County

via TaxByCounty

Washington taxes slightly above U.S. average

Washington County's effective tax rate of 1.847% exceeds the national median of 1.831% by a small margin, positioning it just above average nationally. The median property tax of $2,766 falls nearly equal to the national median of $2,690.

Slightly above Illinois average

Washington County ranks in the upper-middle of Illinois counties for effective tax rate at 1.847%, modestly above the state average of 1.831%. Most Illinois counties either tax at lower rates or fall into similar ranges.

Taxes higher than most surrounding areas

Washington County's 1.847% rate exceeds Vermilion County (1.793%), Wabash County (1.471%), Wayne County (1.526%), and Union County (1.405%). Homeowners here pay a modest premium compared to neighbors in adjacent counties.

Median home costs $2,766 yearly

A median-valued home in Washington County ($149,800) generates an estimated annual property tax of $2,766. With mortgage-related assessments, owners may owe up to $3,073 per year.

Appeal your assessment if warranted

Many Washington County homeowners are overassessed and eligible to challenge their valuations free of charge. An appeal could save you hundreds of dollars annually on your property taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Washington County

via CostByCounty

Washington County excels in housing affordability

Washington County's 12.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks best among these eight counties and notably beats the national average of 14.7%. With median household income of $75,652—near the national median—Washington delivers exceptional affordability through reasonably priced housing despite higher home values.

Illinois's gold standard for affordability

Washington County's 12.3% rent-to-income ratio stands among Illinois's best, significantly outperforming the state average of 14.7%. The county combines above-average household incomes of $75,652 with moderate rents of $776, creating genuine financial breathing room for residents.

Washington leads regional affordability

Only Warren County (12.9%) competes with Washington's 12.3% rent-to-income ratio; all other surveyed counties lag behind. Washington's $776 monthly rent and strong household incomes of $75,652 set it apart as the region's affordability leader.

Incomes comfortably cover housing costs

Washington residents earning $75,652 annually allocate just $776 to median rent—a mere 12.3% of income—and $920 for owner costs, reflecting median home values of $149,800. This optimal ratio leaves families substantial discretionary income.

Washington County rewards strategic movers

If you're relocating within Illinois, Washington County delivers the strongest affordability fundamentals in this survey paired with higher home values indicating long-term stability. Calculate your housing-cost savings by comparing your current ratio against Washington's exceptional 12.3%.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Washington County

via IncomeByCounty

Washington County nearly matches national income

Washington County's median household income of $75,652 closely tracks the U.S. median of $74,755, exceeding it by just $897. This near-parity places the county among stronger-earning regions nationally, reflecting stable labor markets.

Strong earner within Illinois counties

At $75,652, Washington County outearns the Illinois state average of $68,580 by $7,072 and ranks among the higher-income counties statewide. Per capita income of $38,507 tops the state average of $36,009, indicating broadly distributed earning power across the population.

Second-highest income in eight-county region

Washington's $75,652 median trails only Tazewell County ($76,704) by $1,052 among regional peers. The county demonstrates strong economic fundamentals alongside Tazewell, creating a two-county high-income corridor in the region.

Housing costs minimal at 12.3 percent

Washington County's 12.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the region's lowest, well below affordability thresholds and signaling strong housing accessibility. Median home values of $149,800 remain achievable for median-income households, supporting robust homeownership.

Invest aggressively with strong income foundation

Washington County households earning $75,652 can commit roughly $1,513 monthly to savings and investments after essentials. This regional income advantage enables maxing retirement contributions, diversifying into taxable accounts, and pursuing real estate investments to accelerate wealth accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Washington County

via HealthByCounty

Washington County leads in longevity

Washington County residents live an average of 77.1 years—the highest in the analysis, exceeding both the U.S. average of 74.5 years and Illinois's 76.0-year average by 1.1 years. With only 15.7% reporting poor or fair health—below the national 18%—Washington demonstrates exceptional health resilience and disease management.

Washington ranks top-tier in Illinois

Washington's 77.1-year life expectancy is the highest in this cohort and well above Illinois's 76.0-year average, placing the county among the state's healthiest. The uninsured rate of 4.8% is the lowest in the analysis and significantly better than Illinois's 6.3%, indicating exceptional health insurance coverage.

Outperforms all peer counties

Washington's 77.1-year life expectancy leads every neighbor in the analysis, including Tazewell (76.6) and Stephenson (76.2), while its 4.8% uninsured rate is the best across all eight counties. The primary care provider rate of 15 per 100,000 is the lowest among peers, yet outcomes remain exceptional—suggesting high efficiency in primary care utilization.

Lowest uninsured rate, excellent outcomes

Washington's 4.8% uninsured rate means nearly every resident can access preventive care without financial barriers, driving superior health outcomes. Though the county has only 15 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the strong insurance coverage and 155 mental health providers per 100,000 enable residents to access care efficiently.

Maintain Washington's coverage success

Washington's exceptional insurance rates demonstrate the power of universal coverage in improving health outcomes. If you're among the uninsured 4.8%, connecting to a plan takes just minutes—visit healthcare.gov or contact Washington County Health Department to secure coverage today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Washington County

via RiskByCounty

Washington near national risk baseline

With a composite risk score of 55.15, Washington County sits just below the national median for natural disaster risk. This "Relatively Low" rating masks exceptional earthquake vulnerability (90.52), which dwarfs other hazards in the county.

Slightly below Illinois average

Washington's 55.15 score sits marginally below the Illinois state average of 54.46, making it a middle-of-the-road county statewide. However, its earthquake risk ranks among the state's highest.

Similar risk profile to Union County

Washington (55.15) and Union County (55.38) have nearly identical overall risk scores, both distinguished by exceptionally high earthquake exposure. Both counties sit well below their neighbor Wayne County (40.74) in overall risk.

Earthquake dominates hazard landscape

Earthquake risk of 90.52 is Washington's defining feature and among the nation's highest, reflecting proximity to active fault zones in southern Illinois. Tornado (44.24) and hurricane (38.76) risks are secondary but still meaningful.

Earthquake insurance is essential

Earthquake coverage is critical for Washington County residents—standard policies exclude all seismic damage. Anchor heavy furniture and appliances to walls, bolt your house foundation, and keep emergency supplies accessible for rapid earthquake response.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.