Washington County

Pennsylvania · PA

#31 in Pennsylvania
66.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Washington County, Pennsylvania

Washington ranks well nationally

Washington County's composite score of 69.1 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 38%, confirming its standing as a livable county by U.S. measures. This performance reflects balanced strength across income, taxes, and housing.

Strong performer in Pennsylvania

At 69.1, Washington surpasses the state average of 66.0 by 3.1 points, placing it among Pennsylvania's top-performing counties. The advantage is particularly visible in income levels.

Income and taxes lead the way

Washington shines with an income score of 34.0 and median household income of $77,487—second only to Union County, reflecting strong earning potential. The tax score of 71.1 and effective rate of 1.108% keep the tax burden manageable.

Housing costs are elevated

The cost score of 76.4 with median home values of $220,600 and rents at $922/month indicates higher real estate prices than some peers. Safety, health, schools, and environmental data remain unavailable.

Suits career-focused households

Washington County appeals to professionals and dual-income families whose stronger earnings justify higher housing costs. It offers the best balance of income potential and reasonable taxes in this group.

Score breakdown

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

Tax71.1Cost76.4SafetyComing SoonHealth74.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome34Risk16.9WaterComing Soon
🏛71.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠76.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼34
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
74.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
16.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

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 Below Both National Averages

Washington County's effective tax rate of 1.108% sits well below the national median of 1.281%, placing it in the lower tier of American counties. The median annual property tax of $2,445 trails the national median of $2,690 by roughly 9%, offering solid relief for homeowners.

Among Pennsylvania's Most Tax-Friendly

Washington's effective tax rate of 1.108% ranks among Pennsylvania's lowest, falling well below the state average of 1.317%. Its median property tax of $2,445 is 8% below the state average of $2,657, making the county one of the Commonwealth's better deals for homeowners.

Lower Taxes Than Comparable Counties

Washington's 1.108% rate beats Susquehanna (1.148%), Union (1.196%), Tioga (1.189%), and most other regional peers. Though larger homes command higher absolute taxes, the effective rate keeps the county competitive in the southwestern region.

Moderate Home Value, Reasonable Bill

A median Washington County home valued at $220,600 results in $2,445 in annual property taxes, about $200 less than the national median. The mortgage-inclusive bill reaches $2,749, while the non-mortgage figure sits at $2,053, reflecting modest burden relative to home size.

Appeal Can Unlock Further Savings

Many Washington County homeowners carry assessments above fair market value, especially in neighborhoods where comparable sales have declined. A property tax appeal is free, simple, and frequently uncovers hundreds of dollars in annual savings or refunds.

Cost of Living in Washington County

via CostByCounty

Washington County: Strong Income, Great Affordability

Washington County's median income of $77,487 tops this eight-county cluster and exceeds the national average of $74,755, while its 14.3% rent-to-income ratio is the best in the group. Renters spending $922/month benefit from substantial income cushion.

Washington Leads Pennsylvania in Affordability

Washington County ranks as Pennsylvania's most affordable county for renters with a 14.3% rent-to-income ratio, beating the state average of 16.5% by over 2 percentage points. The county combines strong median income ($77,487) with moderate housing costs, a rare combination.

High Income Enables Comfortable Living

Washington's $922 rent and $1,009 mortgage represent the region's highest housing costs, but pair with the cluster's highest median income ($77,487), making them entirely manageable. Home values at $220,600 reflect a healthy, stable real estate market.

Washington: Maximum Flexibility for Households

Washington residents earning $77,487 dedicate just 14.3% to rent ($922/month) or proportional amounts to mortgages ($1,009/month), keeping over 85% of income for other priorities. This provides exceptional financial breathing room compared to other Pennsylvania counties.

Washington County for Affluent Relocators

Washington County combines Pennsylvania's best affordability ratio (14.3%), the cluster's highest income ($77,487), and a healthy real estate market ($220,600 median homes). If you earn above $70,000, Washington delivers superior economic fundamentals with manageable housing costs.

Income & Jobs in Washington County

via IncomeByCounty

Washington exceeds national income median

Washington County's median household income of $77,487 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by 3.7%—$2,732 above the U.S. baseline. This positions Washington as the strongest-earning county in the eight-county survey and among Pennsylvania's higher-income rural areas.

Well above Pennsylvania state average

Washington's $77,487 exceeds the state average of $69,614 by $7,873, placing it in Pennsylvania's upper income tier. Per capita income of $44,392 significantly surpasses the state average of $37,407, indicating robust earning power across all demographic groups.

Highest-earning county in the region

Washington's $77,487 outpaces all seven other surveyed counties, leading Union ($72,894), Susquehanna ($66,930), and every other peer. This income leadership reflects Washington's proximity to Pittsburgh's economic influence and more diversified employment base.

Superior affordability with strong income

Washington's rent-to-income ratio of 14.3% is the lowest in the region, combining highest income with lowest housing burden. With a median home value of $220,600, residents enjoy both strong earning power and exceptional housing affordability.

Accelerate wealth-building with dual advantage

Washington households benefit from above-average income and industry-leading low housing costs—a powerful combination for aggressive wealth accumulation. Maximize retirement contributions, diversify investments, and explore real estate equity strategies to build generational wealth and outpace state and national peers.

Health in Washington County

via HealthByCounty

Washington County Health Moderately Below U.S. Average

Washington County residents live to 75.9 years, trailing the U.S. life expectancy of 78.9 years by three years. With 17.0% reporting poor or fair health, Washington County reports the lowest poor/fair health rate among these eight counties—a positive indicator suggesting residents perceive their health favorably relative to neighbors. This combination suggests moderate health challenges with some bright spots in population wellness.

Slightly Below State Average, Best Health Perception

Washington County's 75.9-year life expectancy sits 0.5 years below Pennsylvania's 76.4-year average, a modest gap that places the county in the state's lower-middle tier. Its 17.0% poor/fair health rate represents the best in this regional group—indicating Washington residents report stronger health satisfaction than peers across Pennsylvania and these neighboring counties. Washington demonstrates that life expectancy and health perception don't always align perfectly.

Strong Primary Care, Solid Mental Health Network

Washington County provides 77 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the highest in this group and substantially above Sullivan County's unknown capacity and Susquehanna's 37 per capita. With 170 mental health providers per 100,000, Washington also maintains robust behavioral health access that exceeds most regional neighbors. This provider infrastructure directly supports the county's positive health perception scores.

Lowest Uninsured Rate in Region

Washington County's 5.5% uninsured rate ranks lowest among these eight counties, well below Pennsylvania's 7.0% average and suggesting strongest coverage access in the group. Combined with 77 primary care and 170 mental health providers per 100,000, most Washington residents have both insurance and nearby providers available. The remaining uninsured represent a small but addressable healthcare access challenge.

Protect Your Health with Current Coverage

Washington County's exceptional provider network of 77 primary care and 170 mental health providers per 100,000 delivers best value when paired with insurance coverage. If you're among the county's 5.5% uninsured, exploring marketplace plans takes minutes on healthcare.gov and immediately unlocks access to local providers. Those with coverage should schedule annual preventive exams with Washington County's abundant primary care network to maintain the strong health satisfaction the county currently enjoys.

Disaster Risk in Washington County

via RiskByCounty

Washington County faces elevated national risk

Washington County scores 83.08 nationally, placing it significantly above the U.S. average and in the higher-risk category of American counties. This positioning reflects substantial vulnerability across multiple hazard types, making comprehensive disaster preparedness critical for residents.

Pennsylvania's second-highest-risk county

Washington County's composite score of 83.08 exceeds Pennsylvania's state average of 67.45 by a substantial margin, ranking it as one of the state's most hazard-exposed communities. Only a handful of Pennsylvania counties face comparable disaster vulnerability.

Significantly riskier than surrounding counties

Washington County (83.08) carries far greater disaster exposure than all neighboring counties, including Warren County (65.55) and Greene County's nearby peers. The county's exceptional vulnerability across flood (91.41), wildfire (46.12), and tornado (49.78) hazards sets it apart regionally.

Multiple severe hazards converge here

Washington County faces extraordinary flood risk (91.41)—the highest of all Pennsylvania counties—combined with significant wildfire risk (46.12), tornado risk (49.78), and earthquake risk (59.29). These overlapping hazards create a uniquely complex risk profile requiring layered preparedness strategies.

Comprehensive insurance is critical

Washington County residents must obtain flood insurance, homeowners coverage, and strongly consider wildfire and earthquake riders given the county's exceptional multi-hazard exposure. Given flood risk of 91.41 and other elevated scores, comprehensive insurance protection is not optional but essential for financial security.

ByCounty Network

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