HomeRhode IslandWashington County
Washington County, Rhode Island: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Rhode Island had an estimated 130,333 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 129,836, across 329 square miles. County output reached $9.77 bn in 2024, 3,799 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 154 7(a) approvals worth $68.0 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 2020-2024130,344
- Households52,549
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$106,638
- Median age45.5
- Median gross rent$1,327 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$510,800
- Home value to household income4.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher52.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree23.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over92,003
- Population under 1820,042
- Share under 1815.4 percent
- Population 65 and over30,422
- Share 65 and over23.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6479,880
- Civilian labor force69,349
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.9 percent
- Rank by population among Rhode Island counties3rd of 5
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included501st of 3,222
Washington County is the 3rd largest of 5 Rhode Island counties by population. A median home costs 4.8 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.3 percent against 15.4 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, 2024130,333
- Census 2020 base population129,836
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.38 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202494
- Births, 2024843
- Deaths, 20241,303
- Natural change, 2024-460
- Net domestic migration, 2024120
- Net international migration, 2024434
- Total net migration, 2024554
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,380
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1687th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.38 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 arriving3,487
- People arriving, from those returns5,584
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,533
- Net household movement-46
- Adjusted gross income arriving$456.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$32.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$130,895
- Average income of a leaving household$120,120
- Largest single originProvidence County (647 households)
- Largest single destinationKent County (633 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 647 | 1,023 | $61.2 m |
| Kent County | 569 | 930 | $41.7 m |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning | 211 | 321 | $14.7 m |
| Newport County | 187 | 294 | $17.7 m |
| Capitol Planning Region | 107 | 172 | $16.4 m |
| Middlesex County | 75 | 106 | $14.7 m |
| Suffolk County | 61 | 78 | $16.1 m |
| Bristol County | 57 | 104 | $6.0 m |
Households arriving report $10,775 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 Providence 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$9.77 bn
- County GDP, 2023$9.14 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.9 percent
- GDP change over five years34.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Rhode Island areas BEA publishes3rd of 5
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes452nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,940
Output grew 6.9 percent in the latest year and 34.1 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 average59,183
- Establishments reporting5,814
- Average annual pay$62,700
- Average weekly wage$1,206
- Manufacturing, employment11,815
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$75,841
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,511
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,976
- Accommodation and food services, employment7,105
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,358
- Retail trade, employment6,609
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,539
- Construction, employment2,759
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,267
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 11,815 | 185 | $75,841 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,511 | 546 | $55,976 |
| Accommodation and food services | 7,105 | 484 | $31,358 |
| Retail trade | 6,609 | 518 | $40,539 |
| Construction | 2,759 | 569 | $81,980 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,267 | 481 | $56,696 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,110 | 997 | $102,538 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,780 | 456 | $42,672 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 11,815 jobs, 20.0 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 industries3,799
- Employment at those establishments46,113
- Annual payroll$2.93 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.1
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, 2024299
- Declared construction value permitted$102.3 m
- Single family units authorized222
- Multifamily units authorized77
- Multifamily share of units25.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$342,262
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.7
Single-family homes are 74.2 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 recorded154
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$68.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$441,267
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$31,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,000,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,362
- Jobs per approval8.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active40
- Distinct industries receiving approvals75
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms18
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter131
- Franchise loans13
- Franchise share of approvals8.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (14)
- Most active lenderBeacon Bank and Trust (17)
- 504 approvals recorded131
- 504 gross approval dollars$83.5 m
- Average 504 approval$637,176
- Median 504 approval$412,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval7.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.1
- Most active CDCOcean State Business Development Authority (52)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$151.4 m
The average approval of $441,267 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 11.7 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 recorded25
- Paid in full23
- Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure104
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled16
- Status: Paid in full23
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed9
Only 25 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 lending16
- North Kingstown, approvals47
- Westerly, approvals24
- Wakefield, approvals21
- Narragansett, approvals19
- Block Island, approvals8
- Exeter, approvals6
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| North Kingstown | 47 | $23,073,300 |
| Westerly | 24 | $19,178,400 |
| Wakefield | 21 | $3,606,000 |
| Narragansett | 19 | $7,224,900 |
| Block Island | 8 | $6,935,000 |
| Exeter | 6 | $2,026,900 |
| South Kingstown | 6 | $1,337,100 |
| Charlestown | 5 | $1,181,600 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 18 | $3,391,900 |
North Kingstown accounts for 47 approvals against 24 in Westerly. 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 area329 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Rhode Island counties2nd of 5
- Width, east to west23.8 mi
- Height, north to south35 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary1
- Residents per square mile of land396
- Establishments per square mile11.55
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 Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- 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 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class5
- Radon levels in Washington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
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 6, 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 2020-2024130,344
- Households52,549
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$106,638
- Median age45.5
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Rhode Island?
The Census Bureau estimates 130,333 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 130,344, in 52,549 households, ranking 3rd of 5 Rhode Island 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 0.38 percent since the 2020 census base of 129,836, to 130,333 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 843 births against 1,303 deaths, with net migration of 554. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$106,638. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $510,800, which is 4.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,327 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
3,799 establishments, employing 46,113 people with an annual payroll of $2.93 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?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 11,815 jobs, 20.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 59,183 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,700, or $1,206 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?
154 7(a) approvals totaling $68.0 m since FY2020, across 40 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 131 504 approvals worth $83.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
299 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $102.3 m. Multifamily was 25.8 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 Providence County, with 647 households. Arriving households report an average income of $130,895 against $120,120 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.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Washington County. All 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westerly | CDP | 18,411 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Wakefield-Peace Dale | CDP | 9,302 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kingston | CDP | 7,332 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Narragansett Pier | CDP | 3,167 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hope Valley | CDP | 2,297 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Ashaway | CDP | 1,722 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bradford | CDP | 1,511 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Charlestown | CDP | 1,499 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Carolina | CDP | 1,048 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Quonochontaug | CDP | 610 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Weekapaug | CDP | 541 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Misquamicut | CDP | 348 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wyoming | CDP | 320 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Hopkinton | CDP | 206 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Watch Hill | CDP | 203 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 120 of the county's 154 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being North Kingstown (47), Wakefield (21), Narragansett (19). 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.