Washington County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Nebraska had an estimated 21,254 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,860, across 390 square miles. County output reached $1.90 bn in 2024, 666 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 17 7(a) approvals worth $7.9 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 2020-202421,106
- Households8,429
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$94,396
- Median age42.9
- Median gross rent$965 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$297,600
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over14,488
- Population under 185,064
- Share under 1824.0 percent
- Population 65 and over4,047
- Share 65 and over19.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,995
- Civilian labor force11,129
- Unemployment rate1.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.4 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties17th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1814th of 3,222
Washington County is the 17th largest of 93 Nebraska counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.0 percent against 19.2 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, 202421,254
- Census 2020 base population20,860
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.89 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202472
- Births, 2024228
- Deaths, 2024210
- Natural change, 202418
- Net domestic migration, 202441
- Net international migration, 202415
- Total net migration, 202456
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024268
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1209th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.89 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 arriving643
- People arriving, from those returns1,266
- Tax returns filed by households leaving543
- Net household movement100
- Adjusted gross income arriving$54.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$84,877
- Average income of a leaving household$81,265
- Largest single originDouglas County (291 households)
- Largest single destinationDouglas County (219 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 291 | 615 | $28.1 m |
| Dodge County | 52 | 104 | $3.3 m |
| Sarpy County | 49 | 101 | $3.2 m |
| Harrison County | 20 | 34 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $3,612 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 Douglas 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$1.90 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.85 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.6 percent
- GDP change over five years40.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes14th of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1326th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$89,934
Output grew 2.6 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 average8,544
- Establishments reporting685
- Average annual pay$61,749
- Average weekly wage$1,187
- Manufacturing, employment1,412
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$88,200
- Retail trade, employment1,071
- Retail trade, average annual pay$49,694
- Construction, employment940
- Construction, average annual pay$70,104
- Transportation and warehousing, employment926
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$58,466
- Health care and social assistance, employment659
- Accommodation and food services, employment535
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,412 | 27 | $88,200 |
| Retail trade | 1,071 | 63 | $49,694 |
| Construction | 940 | 152 | $70,104 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 926 | 40 | $58,466 |
| Health care and social assistance | 659 | 41 | $55,727 |
| Accommodation and food services | 535 | 35 | $16,549 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 501 | 54 | $64,015 |
| Other services, except public administration | 267 | 48 | $56,937 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,412 jobs, 16.5 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 industries666
- Employment at those establishments6,307
- Annual payroll$378.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents31.6
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, 202482
- Declared construction value permitted$25.5 m
- Single family units authorized82
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$310,572
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.7
Single-family homes are 100.0 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 recorded17
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$466,629
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- Largest single approval$4,185,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)275
- Jobs per approval16.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter17
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals5.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFinish Carpentry Contractors (3)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (3)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 504 approval$438,500
- Median 504 approval$494,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval3.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.4
- Most active CDCNebraska Economic Development Corporation (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$9.7 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 disclosure11
- Status: Cancelled2
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 lending6
- Blair, approvals6
- Arlington, approvals4
- Bennington, approvals3
- Omaha, approvals2
- Fort Calhoun, approvals1
- Kennard, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Blair | 6 | $5,914,500 |
| Arlington | 4 | $374,200 |
| Bennington | 3 | $648,000 |
| Omaha | 2 | $736,000 |
| Fort Calhoun | 1 | $160,000 |
| Kennard | 1 | $100,000 |
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 area390 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties89th of 93
- Width, east to west26.6 mi
- Height, north to south20.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land54
- Establishments per square mile1.71
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 310483
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 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 310483), 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. 85.7 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 2020-202421,106
- Households8,429
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$94,396
- Median age42.9
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 21,254 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 21,106, in 8,429 households, ranking 17th of 93 Nebraska 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 1.89 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,860, to 21,254 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 228 births against 210 deaths, with net migration of 56. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$94,396. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $297,600, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $965 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
666 establishments, employing 6,307 people with an annual payroll of $378.8 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?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,412 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,544 jobs at an average annual pay of $61,749, or $1,187 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?
17 7(a) approvals totaling $7.9 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
82 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $25.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 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 Douglas County, with 291 households. Arriving households report an average income of $84,877 against $81,265 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.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair | city | 7,914 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Arlington | village | 1,467 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Calhoun | city | 1,173 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Kennard | village | 425 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Herman | village | 360 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Washington | village | 198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fontanelle | CDP | 60 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 17 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Bennington (3), Omaha (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