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Washington County, PA

RANK #455 / 996  ·  POP 209,631  ·  PA

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.9%

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

[01] Why Washington County?

Washington County, Pennsylvania, distinguishes itself with a rich history, notably as the site of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, with the preserved David Bradford House serving as a museum. Located less than 30 minutes south of downtown Pittsburgh, the county offers a blend of small-town and rural settings with convenient interstate access. Commute options include local bus services and suburban park-and-ride lots for those traveling to Pittsburgh. The landscape features rolling hills and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities across 5,500 acres of parkland, including Mingo Creek, Cross Creek, and Ten Mile Creek County Parks, and a portion of the Panhandle Trail. The county is also known for its 23 historic covered bridges, celebrated annually during a festival.

Life in Washington County offers a mix of suburban and rural living, attracting families, young professionals, and retirees. Public schools in the county generally perform above average, with districts like Peters Township and Canon-McMillan ranking highly in the Pittsburgh region. The local economy is diverse, with significant activity in energy, particularly natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale, and growing investments in data centers and industrial/logistics sectors. Southpointe, a large business park, is a notable economic hub within the county.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.9x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+1.4%

Below national median

Home Prices
+1.7%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
0.4

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low 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
209,631
+0.26% YoY
Median Household Income
$74,403
Median Home Value
$205,600
+1.72% 12mo
Median Rent
$879
Average Annual Pay
$72,319
+3.9% YoY
Employment
87,434
+1.4% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3619
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.49%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$287,787
Days on Market
95
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.2
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.6%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
19.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
17.4%
Building Permits (2024)
450
Single-Family Permits
415

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

[05] Capital Investment

$1,700M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Zediker Station Data Center Campus
CNX Resources Corp. / JLL
$1,000M Proposed
Fort Cherry Development District Natural Gas Power Plant
Liberty Energy Inc., Imperial Land Corp., Range Resources
$500M Planned
Mitchell Power Station Redevelopment (Industrial/Logistics/Energy)
Canastrale Properties
$100M Planned
West Finley Data Center
Next Generation Land Company
$50M Proposed
Southpointe Development (Multi-use)
Washington County Redevelopment Authority
$50M Operating

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

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.4% 24 percentile
Population Growth +0.3% 41 percentile
Income Growth +8.2% 40 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.1% 48 percentile
Home Price Change +1.7% 56 percentile
Rent Growth +4.5% 73 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 51 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Washington County has a Boom Town Index score of 54/100, ranking #455 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.4% and a median household income of $74,403, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Washington County affordable?

The median home value in Washington County is $205,600 with median rent at $879/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3619, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Washington County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.4%. Home values changed +1.7% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Washington County?

Yes — 3.49% of Washington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Oakland County, MI 64 Sullivan County, NY 64 Harford County, MD 64 Essex County, MA 64 Burke County, NC 64 Muskingum County, OH 64 Vigo County, IN 64 Cass County, ND 64