Washington County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Iowa had an estimated 22,631 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,565, across 569 square miles. County output reached $1.86 bn in 2024, 687 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 13 7(a) approvals worth $5.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Washington County
How many people live in Washington County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,561
- Households8,972
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$75,647
- Median age40.7
- Median gross rent$879 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$203,900
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,390
- Population under 185,533
- Share under 1824.5 percent
- Population 65 and over4,538
- Share 65 and over20.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,490
- Civilian labor force11,980
- Unemployment rate2.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.4 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties27th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1743rd of 3,222
Washington County is the 27th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.5 percent against 20.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Washington County
Is Washington County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202422,631
- Census 2020 base population22,565
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.29 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202477
- Births, 2024265
- Deaths, 2024232
- Natural change, 202433
- Net domestic migration, 2024-4
- Net international migration, 202447
- Total net migration, 202443
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-100
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1721st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.29 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Washington County
Where are people moving to Washington County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving553
- People arriving, from those returns1,017
- Tax returns filed by households leaving531
- Net household movement22
- Adjusted gross income arriving$32.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,893
- Average income of a leaving household$55,815
- Largest single originJohnson County (151 households)
- Largest single destinationJohnson County (144 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 151 | 274 | $11.0 m |
| Henry County | 41 | 77 | $1.7 m |
| Louisa County | 28 | 56 | $1.5 m |
| Linn County | 26 | 60 | $1.6 m |
| Keokuk County | 23 | 45 | $1.1 m |
| Jefferson County | 22 | 39 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $2,078 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Johnson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Washington County
What is the Washington County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.86 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.64 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202413.8 percent
- GDP change over five years76.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes24th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1347th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$82,594
Output grew 13.8 percent in the latest year and 76.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Washington County
Employment by industry in Washington County
- Covered employment, annual average8,558
- Establishments reporting858
- Average annual pay$48,539
- Average weekly wage$933
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,173
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,728
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,055
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$32,858
- Retail trade, employment1,022
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,558
- Manufacturing, employment926
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,526
- Construction, employment870
- Wholesale trade, employment430
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,173 | 48 | $32,728 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,055 | 93 | $32,858 |
| Retail trade | 1,022 | 84 | $31,558 |
| Manufacturing | 926 | 46 | $64,526 |
| Construction | 870 | 125 | $58,695 |
| Wholesale trade | 430 | 58 | $77,144 |
| Other services, except public administration | 271 | 51 | $35,943 |
| Finance and insurance | 197 | 47 | $67,527 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,173 jobs, 13.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Washington County
How many businesses are in Washington County?
- Establishments, all industries687
- Employment at those establishments6,474
- Annual payroll$291.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Washington County
Building permits in Washington County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202434
- Declared construction value permitted$9.2 m
- Single family units authorized16
- Multifamily units authorized18
- Multifamily share of units52.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$269,692
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.8
Multifamily is 52.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Washington County
SBA loans in Washington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded13
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$435,231
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- Largest single approval$2,929,300
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)75
- Jobs per approval5.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active8
- Distinct industries receiving approvals11
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer38.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter8
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals7.7 percent
- Most active lenderHills Bank and Trust Company (5)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.6 m
- Average 504 approval$272,500
- Median 504 approval$260,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval5.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved20.2
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$7.3 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Washington County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Washington County
Do SBA loans in Washington County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Washington County
SBA lending by place in Washington County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Washington, approvals5
- Riverside, approvals4
- Kalona, approvals2
- Ainsworth, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 5 | $954,700 |
| Riverside | 4 | $1,564,000 |
| Kalona | 2 | $2,974,300 |
| Ainsworth | 2 | $165,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Washington County
How large is Washington County?
- Land area569 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties52nd of 99
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south24.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land40
- Establishments per square mile1.21
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Washington County
Flood risk in Washington County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Washington County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190913
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Washington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Washington County (community 190913), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Washington County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Washington County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Washington County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,561
- Households8,972
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$75,647
- Median age40.7
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 22,631 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 22,561, in 8,972 households, ranking 27th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Washington County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.29 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,565, to 22,631 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 265 births against 232 deaths, with net migration of 43. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$75,647. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $203,900, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $879 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
687 establishments, employing 6,474 people with an annual payroll of $291.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Washington County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,173 jobs, 13.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,558 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,539, or $933 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Washington County?
13 7(a) approvals totaling $5.7 m since FY2020, across 8 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $1.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
34 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $9.2 m. Multifamily was 52.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Washington County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Washington County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnson County, with 151 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,893 against $55,815 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Washington County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Washington County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Washington County
Cities and places in Washington.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | city | 7,290 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Kalona | city | 2,692 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Wellman | city | 1,454 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Keota | city | 891 | None recorded | 13.3 percent here, 86.7 percent Keokuk County |
| Riverside | city | 890 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Ainsworth | city | 633 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Brighton | city | 588 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crawfordsville | city | 312 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Chester | city | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coppock | city | 29 | None recorded | 64.4 percent here, 31.0 percent Henry County, 4.6 percent Jefferson County |
Nearby