HomeMinnesotaWashington County
Washington County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Minnesota had an estimated 283,960 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 267,557, across 384 square miles. County output reached $17.08 bn in 2024, 6,542 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 514 7(a) approvals worth $201.1 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 2020-2024276,238
- Households105,577
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$115,345
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$1,710 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$422,000
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher49.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over188,684
- Population under 1866,194
- Share under 1824.0 percent
- Population 65 and over45,973
- Share 65 and over16.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64164,071
- Civilian labor force148,883
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.9 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties5th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included261st of 3,222
Washington County is the 5th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.0 percent against 16.6 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, 2024283,960
- Census 2020 base population267,557
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.13 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20244,562
- Births, 20242,775
- Deaths, 20242,077
- Natural change, 2024698
- Net domestic migration, 20243,019
- Net international migration, 2024885
- Total net migration, 20243,904
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202410,324
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents392nd of 3,144
The county has grown 6.13 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 arriving9,950
- People arriving, from those returns17,784
- Tax returns filed by households leaving9,285
- Net household movement665
- Adjusted gross income arriving$874.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$23.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$87,864
- Average income of a leaving household$91,624
- Largest single originRamsey County (3,192 households)
- Largest single destinationRamsey County (2,087 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | 3,192 | 6,123 | $269.6 m |
| Hennepin County | 1,405 | 2,303 | $133.2 m |
| Dakota County | 1,105 | 1,977 | $88.1 m |
| Anoka County | 575 | 1,035 | $50.6 m |
| St. Croix County | 263 | 424 | $21.1 m |
| Chisago County | 257 | 450 | $18.1 m |
| Pierce County | 99 | 150 | $11.3 m |
| Maricopa County | 98 | 169 | $11.5 m |
Households arriving report $3,760 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Ramsey 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$17.08 bn
- County GDP, 2023$16.43 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.0 percent
- GDP change over five years40.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes5th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes295th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,822
Output grew 4.0 percent in the latest year and 40.8 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 average95,625
- Establishments reporting7,011
- Average annual pay$60,700
- Average weekly wage$1,167
- Health care and social assistance, employment15,696
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,438
- Retail trade, employment14,633
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,080
- Manufacturing, employment11,621
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$82,373
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,951
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,279
- Construction, employment4,571
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment4,183
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 15,696 | 1,091 | $63,438 |
| Retail trade | 14,633 | 711 | $36,080 |
| Manufacturing | 11,621 | 227 | $82,373 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,951 | 478 | $24,279 |
| Construction | 4,571 | 645 | $82,418 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 4,183 | 844 | $87,121 |
| Other services, except public administration | 3,748 | 823 | $38,353 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,914 | 278 | $99,293 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 15,696 jobs, 16.4 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 industries6,542
- Employment at those establishments95,631
- Annual payroll$5.38 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.7
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, 20241,397
- Declared construction value permitted$493.2 m
- Single family units authorized1,261
- Multifamily units authorized136
- Multifamily share of units9.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$353,012
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.2
Single-family homes are 90.3 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 recorded514
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$201.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$391,178
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,000,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)5,556
- Jobs per approval10.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active77
- Distinct industries receiving approvals177
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms31
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter452
- Franchise loans70
- Franchise share of approvals13.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFitness and Recreational Sports Centers (19)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (92)
- 504 approvals recorded197
- 504 gross approval dollars$144.4 m
- Average 504 approval$732,746
- Median 504 approval$461,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval12.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.7
- Most active CDCTwin Cities-Metro Certified Development Company (101)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$345.4 m
The average approval of $391,178 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.0 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 recorded124
- Paid in full113
- Charged off11
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans8.9 percent
- Status: Paid in full113
- Status: Exempt from disclosure324
- Status: Charged off11
- Status: Cancelled46
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed20
Of the 124 loans that have reached a final outcome, 8.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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 lending28
- Saint Paul, approvals117
- Stillwater, approvals78
- Woodbury, approvals77
- Forest Lake, approvals43
- Cottage Grove, approvals41
- Lake Elmo, approvals39
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul | 117 | $44,310,100 |
| Stillwater | 78 | $27,544,800 |
| Woodbury | 77 | $37,102,000 |
| Forest Lake | 43 | $15,361,700 |
| Cottage Grove | 41 | $6,450,800 |
| Lake Elmo | 39 | $22,693,800 |
| Hugo | 30 | $9,353,400 |
| Oakdale | 26 | $10,257,700 |
| 20 other borrower cities | 63 | $27,991,300 |
Saint Paul accounts for 117 approvals against 78 in Stillwater. 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 area384 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties84th of 87
- Width, east to west13.4 mi
- Height, north to south38.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land719
- Establishments per square mile17.04
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 270499
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book27
- Of those, participating in the NFIP25
- NFIP participation rate92.6 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 270499), 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. 92.6 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 2020-2024276,238
- Households105,577
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$115,345
- Median age39.8
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 283,960 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 276,238, in 105,577 households, ranking 5th of 87 Minnesota 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 6.13 percent since the 2020 census base of 267,557, to 283,960 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,775 births against 2,077 deaths, with net migration of 3,904. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$115,345. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $422,000, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,710 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
6,542 establishments, employing 95,631 people with an annual payroll of $5.38 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 15,696 jobs, 16.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 95,625 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,700, or $1,167 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?
514 7(a) approvals totaling $201.1 m since FY2020, across 77 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 197 504 approvals worth $144.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Washington County get paid back?
Of the 124 loans that have reached a final outcome, 113 were paid in full and 11 charged off, a charge-off rate of 8.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
1,397 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $493.2 m. Multifamily was 9.7 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 Ramsey County, with 3,192 households. Arriving households report an average income of $87,864 against $91,624 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.
26 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. All 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | city | 78,305 | 77 | Wholly in this county |
| Cottage Grove | city | 40,992 | 41 | Wholly in this county |
| Oakdale | city | 28,585 | 26 | Wholly in this county |
| Hastings | city | 22,117 | None recorded | 2.6 percent here, 97.4 percent Dakota County |
| Forest Lake | city | 20,729 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| Stillwater | city | 19,355 | 78 | Wholly in this county |
| Hugo | city | 16,340 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Elmo | city | 13,140 | 39 | Wholly in this county |
| Mahtomedi | city | 8,133 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Paul Park | city | 5,457 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Park Heights | city | 4,756 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Newport | city | 4,754 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Grant | city | 3,950 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Scandia | city | 3,950 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Bayport | city | 3,905 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Afton | city | 2,957 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeland | city | 1,492 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Dellwood | city | 1,181 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake St. Croix Beach | city | 1,105 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Birchwood Village | city | 866 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Landfall | city | 776 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marine on St. Croix | city | 740 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Willernie | city | 495 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Marys Point | city | 483 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Springs | city | 395 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeland Shores | city | 344 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 131 of the county's 514 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Saint Paul (117), Lino Lakes (4), Lind Lakes (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.