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Washington County, Tennessee: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Tennessee had an estimated 139,642 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 133,005, across 326 square miles. County output reached $9.17 bn in 2024, 3,076 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 78 7(a) approvals worth $54.5 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 2020-2024136,261
- Households56,759
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$62,809
- Median age40.2
- Median gross rent$1,005 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$249,000
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over94,288
- Population under 1825,446
- Share under 1818.7 percent
- Population 65 and over25,751
- Share 65 and over18.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6485,064
- Civilian labor force68,169
- Unemployment rate4.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.5 percent
- Rank by population among Tennessee counties12th of 95
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included487th of 3,222
Washington County is the 12th largest of 95 Tennessee counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 18.9 percent against 18.7 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, 2024139,642
- Census 2020 base population133,005
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.99 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,014
- Births, 20241,270
- Deaths, 20241,729
- Natural change, 2024-459
- Net domestic migration, 20241,140
- Net international migration, 2024317
- Total net migration, 20241,457
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20247,477
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents535th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.99 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 arriving4,924
- People arriving, from those returns8,768
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,970
- Net household movement954
- Adjusted gross income arriving$379.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$152.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$76,961
- Average income of a leaving household$57,055
- Largest single originSullivan County (771 households)
- Largest single destinationSullivan County (780 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | 771 | 1,308 | $45.9 m |
| Carter County | 528 | 942 | $21.3 m |
| Greene County | 240 | 421 | $12.0 m |
| Unicoi County | 137 | 250 | $5.0 m |
| Knox County | 120 | 194 | $6.9 m |
| Hawkins County | 99 | 166 | $4.6 m |
| Buncombe County | 65 | 96 | $4.4 m |
| Washington County | 42 | 65 | $4.1 m |
Households arriving report $19,906 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 Sullivan 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$9.17 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.75 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years41.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Tennessee areas BEA publishes11th of 95
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes474th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,328
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 41.8 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 average63,746
- Establishments reporting3,896
- Average annual pay$55,766
- Average weekly wage$1,072
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,342
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,233
- Retail trade, employment8,158
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,898
- Accommodation and food services, employment7,517
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,531
- Manufacturing, employment4,909
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$65,749
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment4,712
- Wholesale trade, employment2,489
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 11,342 | 531 | $66,233 |
| Retail trade | 8,158 | 519 | $36,898 |
| Accommodation and food services | 7,517 | 333 | $22,531 |
| Manufacturing | 4,909 | 158 | $65,749 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 4,712 | 220 | $38,234 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,489 | 211 | $80,833 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,176 | 444 | $75,719 |
| Construction | 1,930 | 322 | $57,544 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,342 jobs, 17.8 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 industries3,076
- Employment at those establishments56,072
- Annual payroll$2.99 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.6
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, 20241,155
- Declared construction value permitted$341.8 m
- Single family units authorized686
- Multifamily units authorized469
- Multifamily share of units40.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$295,970
- Units authorized per 1,000 households20.3
Multifamily is 40.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Washington County
SBA loans in Washington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded78
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$54.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$699,036
- Median 7(a) approval$314,700
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,747,440
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,055
- Jobs per approval13.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active41
- Distinct industries receiving approvals56
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter52
- Franchise loans23
- Franchise share of approvals29.5 percent
- Most active lenderThe First Bank and Trust Company (6)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.0 m
- Average 504 approval$602,500
- Median 504 approval$431,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.0
- Most active CDCBrightbridge, Inc. (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$60.5 m
The average approval of $699,036 sits well above the median of $314,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.9 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 recorded28
- Paid in full23
- Charged off5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure41
- Status: Paid in full23
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 28 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
- Johnson City, approvals67
- Jonesborough, approvals6
- Gray, approvals2
- Mesa, approvals1
- Unicoi, approvals1
- Limestone, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | 67 | $47,002,600 |
| Jonesborough | 6 | $6,667,200 |
| Gray | 2 | $450,000 |
| Mesa | 1 | $150,000 |
| Unicoi | 1 | $150,000 |
| Limestone | 1 | $105,000 |
Johnson City accounts for 67 approvals against 6 in Jonesborough. 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 area326 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Tennessee counties68th of 95
- Width, east to west22.5 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land418
- Establishments per square mile9.44
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 470265
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- 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 10
- 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 470265), 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 10, 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 2020-2024136,261
- Households56,759
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$62,809
- Median age40.2
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Tennessee?
The Census Bureau estimates 139,642 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 136,261, in 56,759 households, ranking 12th of 95 Tennessee 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 4.99 percent since the 2020 census base of 133,005, to 139,642 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,270 births against 1,729 deaths, with net migration of 1,457. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$62,809. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,000, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,005 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
3,076 establishments, employing 56,072 people with an annual payroll of $2.99 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 11,342 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 63,746 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,766, or $1,072 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?
78 7(a) approvals totaling $54.5 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $314,700, plus 10 504 approvals worth $6.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
1,155 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $341.8 m. Multifamily was 40.6 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 Sullivan County, with 771 households. Arriving households report an average income of $76,961 against $57,055 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | city | 72,222 | 67 | 95.3 percent here, 3.2 percent Carter County |
| Jonesborough | town | 6,232 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 4,626 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spurgeon | CDP | 4,071 | None recorded | 50.7 percent here, 49.3 percent Sullivan County |
| Gray | CDP | 2,237 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Fall Branch | CDP | 1,160 | None recorded | 75.8 percent here, 24.2 percent Greene County |
| Embreeville | CDP | 1,062 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Telford | CDP | 731 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Watauga | city | 644 | None recorded | 3.4 percent here, 96.6 percent Carter County |
A further 3 of the county's 78 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Mesa (1), Unicoi (1), Limestone (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.
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