Washington County, Vermont: commercial real estate data.
Washington County, Vermont had an estimated 59,844 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 59,806, across 687 square miles. County output reached $5.19 bn in 2024, 2,118 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 123 7(a) approvals worth $18.2 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 2020-202460,017
- Households25,855
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$83,449
- Median age43.8
- Median gross rent$1,163 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$315,000
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher48.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over44,302
- Population under 1810,784
- Share under 1818.0 percent
- Population 65 and over12,965
- Share 65 and over21.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6436,268
- Civilian labor force32,828
- Unemployment rate2.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.7 percent
- Rank by population among Vermont counties3rd of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included895th of 3,222
Washington County is the 3rd largest of 14 Vermont counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.6 percent against 18.0 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, 202459,844
- Census 2020 base population59,806
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.06 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-414
- Births, 2024434
- Deaths, 2024545
- Natural change, 2024-111
- Net domestic migration, 2024-425
- Net international migration, 2024126
- Total net migration, 2024-299
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024378
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1804th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.06 percent since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
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 arriving1,758
- People arriving, from those returns2,698
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,700
- Net household movement58
- Adjusted gross income arriving$142.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$21.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$81,038
- Average income of a leaving household$71,008
- Largest single originChittenden County (297 households)
- Largest single destinationChittenden County (290 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 297 | 383 | $16.4 m |
| Orange County | 151 | 240 | $7.2 m |
| Lamoille County | 84 | 117 | $4.6 m |
| Caledonia County | 55 | 90 | $2.1 m |
| Windsor County | 51 | 71 | $2.9 m |
| Middlesex County | 47 | 80 | $7.3 m |
| Addison County | 36 | 47 | $3.3 m |
| Franklin County | 26 | 47 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $10,030 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 Chittenden 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$5.19 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.3 percent
- GDP change over five years31.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Vermont areas BEA publishes2nd of 14
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes700th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$86,495
Output grew 5.3 percent in the latest year and 31.0 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 average33,484
- Establishments reporting3,178
- Average annual pay$67,784
- Average weekly wage$1,304
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,400
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$68,165
- Retail trade, employment3,988
- Retail trade, average annual pay$41,888
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,565
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$30,382
- Manufacturing, employment2,294
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,560
- Finance and insurance, employment2,077
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,876
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,400 | 215 | $68,165 |
| Retail trade | 3,988 | 314 | $41,888 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,565 | 157 | $30,382 |
| Manufacturing | 2,294 | 120 | $63,560 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,077 | 140 | $114,921 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,876 | 665 | $107,762 |
| Educational services | 1,443 | 93 | $56,101 |
| Construction | 1,402 | 260 | $69,183 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,400 jobs, 13.1 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 industries2,118
- Employment at those establishments26,122
- Annual payroll$1.43 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents35.3
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, 2024203
- Declared construction value permitted$67.0 m
- Single family units authorized149
- Multifamily units authorized54
- Multifamily share of units26.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$330,188
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.9
Single-family homes are 73.4 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 recorded123
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$147,802
- Median 7(a) approval$70,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$317,000
- Largest single approval$1,582,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,138
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals75
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer5.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter113
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals0.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (7)
- Most active lenderCommunity National Bank (62)
- 504 approvals recorded51
- 504 gross approval dollars$23.9 m
- Average 504 approval$468,255
- Median 504 approval$240,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval5.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.8
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (51)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$42.1 m
The average approval of $147,802 sits well above the median of $70,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 5.7 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 recorded40
- Paid in full40
- Charged off0
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans0.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure67
- Status: Paid in full40
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed7
Of the 40 loans that have reached a final outcome, 0.0 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 lending19
- Barre, approvals27
- Montpelier, approvals23
- Waitsfield, approvals18
- Waterbury, approvals10
- Waterbury Center, approvals9
- Northfield, approvals9
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Barre | 27 | $3,736,300 |
| Montpelier | 23 | $2,617,500 |
| Waitsfield | 18 | $1,934,700 |
| Waterbury | 10 | $2,396,200 |
| Waterbury Center | 9 | $2,596,000 |
| Northfield | 9 | $657,300 |
| Warren | 5 | $415,000 |
| Marshfield | 3 | $372,000 |
| 11 other borrower cities | 19 | $3,454,700 |
Barre accounts for 27 approvals against 23 in Montpelier. 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 area687 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Vermont counties7th of 14
- Width, east to west36.1 mi
- Height, north to south34.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land87
- Establishments per square mile3.08
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 Book21
- Of those, participating in the NFIP21
- 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 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Washington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Washington County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 7, 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 2020-202460,017
- Households25,855
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$83,449
- Median age43.8
Common questions
Washington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Washington County, Vermont?
The Census Bureau estimates 59,844 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 60,017, in 25,855 households, ranking 3rd of 14 Vermont 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 0.06 percent since the 2020 census base of 59,806, to 59,844 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 434 births against 545 deaths, with net migration of -299. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Washington County?
$83,449. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $315,000, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,163 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Washington County?
2,118 establishments, employing 26,122 people with an annual payroll of $1.43 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 4,400 jobs, 13.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 33,484 jobs at an average annual pay of $67,784, or $1,304 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?
123 7(a) approvals totaling $18.2 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $70,000, plus 51 504 approvals worth $23.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Washington County get paid back?
Of the 40 loans that have reached a final outcome, 40 were paid in full and 0 charged off, a charge-off rate of 0.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Washington County?
203 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $67.0 m. Multifamily was 26.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Washington County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Chittenden County, with 297 households. Arriving households report an average income of $81,038 against $71,008 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barre | city | 8,412 | 27 | Wholly in this county |
| Montpelier | city | 8,014 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Northfield | CDP | 3,766 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Waterbury | CDP | 1,753 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| South Barre | CDP | 1,346 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Barre | CDP | 1,017 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Websterville | CDP | 471 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Marshfield | village | 470 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Plainfield | CDP | 450 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Waterbury Center | CDP | 273 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Graniteville | CDP | 244 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Cabot | CDP | 243 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Waitsfield | CDP | 193 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Worcester | CDP | 113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Montpelier | CDP | 0 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 14 of the county's 123 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Washington County, the largest being Warren (5), Berlin (3), 05677 (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