Washington County, Maryland: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Maryland had an estimated 157,228 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 154,707, across 458 square miles. County output reached $9.96 bn in 2024, 3,417 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 142 7(a) approvals worth $70.6 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 2020-2024155,709
- Households59,818
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$77,747
- Median age40.7
- Median gross rent$1,147 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$296,100
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over109,209
- Population under 1833,870
- Share under 1821.8 percent
- Population 65 and over28,153
- Share 65 and over18.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6493,686
- Civilian labor force74,535
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.2 percent
- Rank by population among Maryland counties11th of 24
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included447th of 3,222
Washington County is the 11th largest of 24 Maryland counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.8 percent against 18.1 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, 2024157,228
- Census 2020 base population154,707
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.63 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,112
- Births, 20241,534
- Deaths, 20241,842
- Natural change, 2024-308
- Net domestic migration, 20241,068
- Net international migration, 2024370
- Total net migration, 20241,438
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,936
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1291st of 3,144
The county has grown 1.63 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
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 arriving4,184
- People arriving, from those returns7,429
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,675
- Net household movement509
- Adjusted gross income arriving$237.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$24.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$56,803
- Average income of a leaving household$57,890
- Largest single originFrederick County (999 households)
- Largest single destinationFranklin County (473 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick County | 999 | 1,787 | $59.5 m |
| Montgomery County | 437 | 931 | $28.3 m |
| Berkeley County | 298 | 527 | $14.0 m |
| Franklin County | 290 | 504 | $13.2 m |
| Prince George's County | 153 | 303 | $8.2 m |
| Anne Arundel County | 93 | 187 | $4.9 m |
| Baltimore city | 89 | 119 | $2.7 m |
| Baltimore County | 86 | 139 | $4.8 m |
Households arriving report $1,087 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Frederick 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$9.96 bn
- County GDP, 2023$9.49 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.0 percent
- GDP change over five years40.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maryland areas BEA publishes10th of 24
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes440th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$63,974
Output grew 5.0 percent in the latest year and 40.3 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 average64,206
- Establishments reporting3,704
- Average annual pay$58,252
- Average weekly wage$1,120
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,200
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$68,498
- Retail trade, employment9,545
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,571
- Manufacturing, employment6,690
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,369
- Transportation and warehousing, employment5,377
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$52,004
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,146
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,408
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10,200 | 455 | $68,498 |
| Retail trade | 9,545 | 544 | $38,571 |
| Manufacturing | 6,690 | 162 | $77,369 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5,377 | 172 | $52,004 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,146 | 340 | $25,000 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,408 | 218 | $43,165 |
| Construction | 3,060 | 338 | $62,784 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,781 | 309 | $43,854 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,200 jobs, 15.9 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 industries3,417
- Employment at those establishments61,729
- Annual payroll$3.04 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.9
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, 2024232
- Declared construction value permitted$66.9 m
- Single family units authorized212
- Multifamily units authorized20
- Multifamily share of units8.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$288,555
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.9
Single-family homes are 91.4 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 recorded142
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$70.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$497,513
- Median 7(a) approval$85,000
- 10th percentile approval$15,010
- 90th percentile approval$1,485,780
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,069
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active34
- Distinct industries receiving approvals82
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer7.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter125
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals7.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Automotive Repair (8)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (78)
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$17.3 m
- Average 504 approval$1,017,353
- Median 504 approval$1,015,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval12.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.9
- Most active CDCBusiness Finance Group, Inc. (12)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$87.9 m
The average approval of $497,513 sits well above the median of $85,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 7.7 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 recorded23
- Paid in full19
- Charged off4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure81
- Status: Paid in full19
- Status: Cancelled17
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed21
Only 23 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 lending12
- Hagerstown, approvals104
- Clear Spring, approvals10
- Williamsport, approvals8
- Sharpsburg, approvals4
- Boonsboro, approvals4
- Smithsburg, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown | 104 | $59,704,200 |
| Clear Spring | 10 | $1,662,700 |
| Williamsport | 8 | $4,584,000 |
| Sharpsburg | 4 | $262,000 |
| Boonsboro | 4 | $135,000 |
| Smithsburg | 3 | $1,363,500 |
| Hancock | 3 | $1,305,000 |
| Cavetown | 2 | $600,000 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 4 | $1,030,500 |
Hagerstown accounts for 104 approvals against 10 in Clear Spring. 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 area458 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maryland counties9th of 24
- Width, east to west46.6 mi
- Height, north to south27.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land340
- Establishments per square mile7.46
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 240070
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- 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 240070), 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. 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 2020-2024155,709
- Households59,818
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$77,747
- Median age40.7
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Maryland?
The Census Bureau estimates 157,228 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 155,709, in 59,818 households, ranking 11th of 24 Maryland 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 1.63 percent since the 2020 census base of 154,707, to 157,228 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,534 births against 1,842 deaths, with net migration of 1,438. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$77,747. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $296,100, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,147 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
3,417 establishments, employing 61,729 people with an annual payroll of $3.04 bn. 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 10,200 jobs, 15.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 64,206 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,252, or $1,120 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?
142 7(a) approvals totaling $70.6 m since FY2020, across 34 lenders, with a median approval of $85,000, plus 17 504 approvals worth $17.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
232 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $66.9 m. Multifamily was 8.6 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 Frederick County, with 999 households. Arriving households report an average income of $56,803 against $57,890 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.
61 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. 57 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown | city | 43,665 | 104 | Wholly in this county |
| Halfway | CDP | 10,849 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Robinwood | CDP | 8,042 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fountainhead-Orchard Hills | CDP | 6,567 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. James | CDP | 4,824 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boonsboro | town | 3,809 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Maugansville | CDP | 3,624 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Smithsburg | town | 3,115 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Paramount-Long Meadow | CDP | 2,569 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Williamsport | town | 1,949 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Wilson-Conococheague | CDP | 1,663 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hancock | town | 1,625 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Keedysville | town | 1,183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Highfield-Cascade | CDP | 1,089 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Funkstown | town | 1,076 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Downsville | CDP | 958 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cavetown | CDP | 858 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Aetna | CDP | 637 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sharpsburg | town | 585 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairplay | CDP | 511 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leitersburg | CDP | 498 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beaver Creek | CDP | 439 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pinesburg | CDP | 409 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Lena | CDP | 391 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mapleville | CDP | 365 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clear Spring | town | 342 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Chewsville | CDP | 314 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Greensburg | CDP | 314 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bagtown | CDP | 310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| San Mar | CDP | 306 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tilghmanton | CDP | 282 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garretts Mill | CDP | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mercersville | CDP | 220 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Trego-Rohrersville Station | CDP | 209 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Briar | CDP | 201 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pecktonville | CDP | 179 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sandy Hook | CDP | 165 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ringgold | CDP | 153 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Breathedsville | CDP | 147 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rohrersville | CDP | 141 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dargan | CDP | 135 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Reid | CDP | 120 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Edgemont | CDP | 107 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pondsville | CDP | 102 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jugtown | CDP | 97 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cearfoss | CDP | 86 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Yarrowsburg | CDP | 83 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Indian Springs | CDP | 61 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Antietam | CDP | 50 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kemps Mill | CDP | 49 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Pool | CDP | 41 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gapland | CDP | 26 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Spring | CDP | 21 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brownsville | CDP | 20 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bakersville | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Charlton | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Eakles Mill | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ernstville | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairview | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Ritchie | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Middleburg | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 142 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Severna Park (1), Middletown (1), Knoxville (1). 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.