Washington County, Maine: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Maine had an estimated 31,383 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,107, across 2,563 square miles. County output reached $1.47 bn in 2024, 845 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 22 7(a) approvals worth $2.9 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 2020-202431,331
- Households14,187
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$56,024
- Median age48.6
- Median gross rent$783 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$161,800
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over23,294
- Population under 185,809
- Share under 1818.5 percent
- Population 65 and over8,253
- Share 65 and over26.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6417,269
- Civilian labor force13,843
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.2 percent
- Rank by population among Maine counties14th of 16
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1437th of 3,222
Washington County is the 14th largest of 16 Maine counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 26.3 percent against 18.5 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Washington County
Is Washington County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202431,383
- Census 2020 base population31,107
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.89 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-63
- Births, 2024260
- Deaths, 2024604
- Natural change, 2024-344
- Net domestic migration, 2024231
- Net international migration, 202455
- Total net migration, 2024286
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,378
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1518th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.89 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though 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 arriving761
- People arriving, from those returns1,277
- Tax returns filed by households leaving562
- Net household movement199
- Adjusted gross income arriving$50.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$20.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$66,558
- Average income of a leaving household$53,007
- Largest single originPenobscot County (71 households)
- Largest single destinationPenobscot County (107 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | 71 | 103 | $3.5 m |
| Hancock County | 61 | 108 | $2.2 m |
| Cumberland County | 38 | 61 | $2.2 m |
| Aroostook County | 33 | 59 | $971,000 |
Households arriving report $13,551 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 Penobscot 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$1.47 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.44 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.1 percent
- GDP change over five years25.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maine areas BEA publishes15th of 16
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1531st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,053
Output grew 2.1 percent in the latest year and 25.1 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 average10,211
- Establishments reporting1,194
- Average annual pay$50,219
- Average weekly wage$966
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,732
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$54,670
- Retail trade, employment1,613
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,260
- Manufacturing, employment982
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,670
- Accommodation and food services, employment608
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,566
- Wholesale trade, employment227
- Transportation and warehousing, employment222
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 1,732 | 117 | $54,670 |
| Retail trade | 1,613 | 135 | $35,260 |
| Manufacturing | 982 | 46 | $64,670 |
| Accommodation and food services | 608 | 84 | $24,566 |
| Wholesale trade | 227 | 42 | $54,222 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 222 | 42 | $49,379 |
| Educational services | 143 | 18 | $48,277 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 112 | 24 | $94,945 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,732 jobs, 17.0 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 industries845
- Employment at those establishments7,475
- Annual payroll$366.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.0
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, 202497
- Declared construction value permitted$24.1 m
- Single family units authorized90
- Multifamily units authorized7
- Multifamily share of units7.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$247,987
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.8
Single-family homes are 92.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Washington County
SBA loans in Washington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded22
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$131,877
- Median 7(a) approval$74,700
- 10th percentile approval$24,100
- 90th percentile approval$237,050
- Largest single approval$1,020,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)84
- Jobs per approval3.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals16
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter19
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countShellfish Fishing (5)
- Most active lenderFranklin Savings Bank (5)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.5 m
- Average 504 approval$908,833
- Median 504 approval$572,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval26.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved29.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$8.4 m
The average approval of $131,877 sits well above the median of $74,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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 recorded7
- Paid in full4
- Charged off3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure11
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Charged off3
Only 7 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 lending14
- Steuben, approvals4
- Milbridge, approvals3
- East Machias, approvals2
- Topsfield, approvals2
- Harrington, approvals2
- Machias, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Steuben | 4 | $440,500 |
| Milbridge | 3 | $140,400 |
| East Machias | 2 | $218,000 |
| Topsfield | 2 | $150,900 |
| Harrington | 2 | $34,000 |
| Machias | 1 | $1,020,000 |
| Jonesport | 1 | $240,000 |
| Perry | 1 | $210,500 |
| 6 other borrower cities | 6 | $447,000 |
Steuben accounts for 4 approvals against 3 in Milbridge. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
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 area2,563 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maine counties5th of 16
- Width, east to west56.7 mi
- Height, north to south88.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land12
- Establishments per square mile0.33
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
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book74
- Of those, participating in the NFIP64
- NFIP participation rate86.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Washington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Washington County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 86.5 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 2020-202431,331
- Households14,187
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$56,024
- Median age48.6
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Maine?
The Census Bureau estimates 31,383 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 31,331, in 14,187 households, ranking 14th of 16 Maine 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 0.89 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,107, to 31,383 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 260 births against 604 deaths, with net migration of 286. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$56,024. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,800, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $783 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
845 establishments, employing 7,475 people with an annual payroll of $366.0 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?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,732 jobs, 17.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,211 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,219, or $966 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?
22 7(a) approvals totaling $2.9 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $74,700, plus 6 504 approvals worth $5.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
97 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $24.1 m. Multifamily was 7.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Washington County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Penobscot County, with 71 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,558 against $53,007 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.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calais | city | 3,097 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Machias | CDP | 1,316 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Eastport | city | 1,263 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodland | CDP | 932 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jonesport | CDP | 571 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Danforth | CDP | 452 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Milbridge | CDP | 326 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lubec | CDP | 277 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Vanceboro | CDP | 122 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 15 of the county's 22 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Steuben (4), East Machias (2), Topsfield (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby