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Washington County, MD

RANK #370 / 996  ·  POP 154,645  ·  MD

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.3%

Washington County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why Washington County?

Washington County, Maryland, distinguishes itself as the first county in the United States named after George Washington. Located in Western Maryland, it offers a blend of small-city life in Hagerstown and surrounding rural areas. Commutes from Hagerstown to Baltimore typically range from 60 to 75 minutes, and to Washington, D.C., from 75 to over 90 minutes, depending on traffic. The county is rich in natural scenery and outdoor recreation, featuring five National Parks, eight State Parks, and fourteen County Parks, including portions of the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

Life in Washington County often appeals to families and young professionals, with public schools in the Washington County Public Schools district generally receiving high ratings. The economy is experiencing growth, particularly in industrial, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. Washington County also sees ongoing development in its tourism industry, drawing visitors to its historical sites and outdoor amenities.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.3x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.5%

Below national median

Home Prices
+1.4%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
0.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Washington County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
154,645
+0.45% YoY
Median Household Income
$73,017
Median Home Value
$262,400
+1.37% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,049
Average Annual Pay
$58,252
+5.4% YoY
Employment
64,206
+2.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2783
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.74%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$312,600
Days on Market
63
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.4%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
28.6%
Listings w/ Price Drops
27.6%
Building Permits (2024)
232
Single-Family Permits
212

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$330M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Johnson Development Logistics Center
Johnson Development
$150M Planned
Trammell Crow Distribution Center
Trammell Crow
$100M Planned
Hitachi Rail Manufacturing Facility
Hitachi Rail
$80M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.5% 46 percentile
Population Growth +0.5% 50 percentile
Income Growth +8.4% 48 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 26 percentile
Home Price Change +1.4% 50 percentile
Rent Growth +4.8% 77 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 37 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington County, MD a good place to move to?

Washington County has a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, ranking #370 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.3% and a median household income of $73,017, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Washington County affordable?

The median home value in Washington County is $262,400 with median rent at $1,049/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2783, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Washington County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.3%. Home values changed +1.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Washington County?

Yes — 2.74% of Washington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Eddy County, NM 73 Erie County, NY 73 Warren County, NY 73 Butler County, OH 73 St. Clair County, MI 73 Sussex County, NJ 73 McKinley County, NM 73 Windsor County, VT 73