HomeWashingtonJefferson County
Jefferson County, Washington: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Washington had an estimated 33,944 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 32,970, across 1,804 square miles. County output reached $1.87 bn in 2024, 991 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 33 7(a) approvals worth $21.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,577
- Households16,340
- Average household size2.05
- Median household income$74,048
- Median age59.8
- Median gross rent$1,522 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$535,000
- Home value to household income7.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income24.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher43.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,552
- Population under 183,747
- Share under 1811.2 percent
- Population 65 and over13,673
- Share 65 and over40.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6416,157
- Civilian labor force13,160
- Unemployment rate6.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over44.1 percent
- Rank by population among Washington counties27th of 39
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1382nd of 3,222
Jefferson County is the 27th largest of 39 Washington counties by population. A median home costs 7.2 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 40.7 percent against 11.2 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.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202433,944
- Census 2020 base population32,970
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.95 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024219
- Births, 2024156
- Deaths, 2024437
- Natural change, 2024-281
- Net domestic migration, 2024443
- Net international migration, 202459
- Total net migration, 2024502
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,871
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents886th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.95 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.
Jefferson County
Where are people moving to Jefferson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,256
- People arriving, from those returns1,948
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,103
- Net household movement153
- Adjusted gross income arriving$141.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$53.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$112,549
- Average income of a leaving household$79,709
- Largest single originKing County (223 households)
- Largest single destinationKitsap County (118 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 223 | 340 | $37.1 m |
| Kitsap County | 129 | 207 | $10.8 m |
| Clallam County | 79 | 123 | $4.3 m |
| Snohomish County | 64 | 96 | $9.0 m |
| Multnomah County | 42 | 73 | $4.6 m |
| Pierce County | 39 | 57 | $2.9 m |
| Whatcom County | 35 | 50 | $3.3 m |
| Thurston County | 22 | 34 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $32,840 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 King 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.
Jefferson County
What is the Jefferson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.87 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.76 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.0 percent
- GDP change over five years43.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Washington areas BEA publishes27th of 39
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1344th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$55,570
Output grew 6.0 percent in the latest year and 43.7 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.
Jefferson County
Employment by industry in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average9,107
- Establishments reporting1,068
- Average annual pay$58,601
- Average weekly wage$1,127
- Retail trade, employment1,111
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,917
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,058
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,221
- Health care and social assistance, employment783
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$40,780
- Construction, employment689
- Construction, average annual pay$60,876
- Manufacturing, employment656
- Other services, except public administration, employment530
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,111 | 102 | $36,917 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,058 | 111 | $27,221 |
| Health care and social assistance | 783 | 79 | $40,780 |
| Construction | 689 | 158 | $60,876 |
| Manufacturing | 656 | 52 | $75,699 |
| Other services, except public administration | 530 | 87 | $49,451 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 366 | 134 | $98,219 |
| Wholesale trade | 213 | 36 | $63,439 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,111 jobs, 12.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
- Establishments, all industries991
- Employment at those establishments7,237
- Annual payroll$381.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.5
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.
Jefferson County
Building permits in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024147
- Declared construction value permitted$47.5 m
- Single family units authorized147
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$323,152
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.0
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.
Jefferson County
SBA loans in Jefferson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded33
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$646,233
- Median 7(a) approval$575,000
- 10th percentile approval$28,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,247,220
- Largest single approval$3,236,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)225
- Jobs per approval6.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active18
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term126 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer42.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter16
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals15.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (4)
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.5 m
- Average 504 approval$392,889
- Median 504 approval$272,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.6
- Most active CDCEvergreen Business Capital (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.9 m
The average approval of $646,233 sits close to the median of $575,000, so lending here is fairly evenly sized rather than driven by a few large deals. 42.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Jefferson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure25
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 5 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.
Jefferson County
SBA lending by place in Jefferson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Port Townsend, approvals18
- Port Hadlock, approvals3
- Quilcene, approvals3
- Brinnon, approvals2
- Port Hadlock-Irondale, approvals2
- Oak Harbor, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Port Townsend | 18 | $13,321,700 |
| Port Hadlock | 3 | $1,973,000 |
| Quilcene | 3 | $1,620,500 |
| Brinnon | 2 | $2,016,500 |
| Port Hadlock-Irondale | 2 | $1,790,000 |
| Oak Harbor | 2 | $479,000 |
| Chimacum | 2 | $75,000 |
| Port Ludlow | 1 | $50,000 |
Port Townsend accounts for 18 approvals against 3 in Port Hadlock. 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.
Jefferson County
How large is Jefferson County?
- Land area1,804 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Washington counties18th of 39
- Width, east to west92.8 mi
- Height, north to south43.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land19
- Establishments per square mile0.55
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.
Jefferson County
Flood risk in Jefferson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jefferson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 530069
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jefferson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Jefferson County (community 530069), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Jefferson County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 75.0 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,577
- Households16,340
- Average household size2.05
- Median household income$74,048
- Median age59.8
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Washington?
The Census Bureau estimates 33,944 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 33,577, in 16,340 households, ranking 27th of 39 Washington counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.95 percent since the 2020 census base of 32,970, to 33,944 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 156 births against 437 deaths, with net migration of 502. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$74,048. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $535,000, which is 7.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,522 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
991 establishments, employing 7,237 people with an annual payroll of $381.6 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 Jefferson County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,111 jobs, 12.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,107 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,601, or $1,127 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
33 7(a) approvals totaling $21.3 m since FY2020, across 18 lenders, with a median approval of $575,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $3.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jefferson County?
147 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $47.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is King County, with 223 households. Arriving households report an average income of $112,549 against $79,709 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County
Cities and places in Jefferson.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Townsend | city | 10,438 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Port Hadlock-Irondale | CDP | 3,884 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Port Ludlow | CDP | 2,891 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Marrowstone | CDP | 1,164 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brinnon | CDP | 758 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Quilcene | CDP | 362 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Queets | CDP | 55 | None recorded | 41.9 percent here, 58.1 percent Grays Harbor County |
A further 7 of the county's 33 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Jefferson County, the largest being Port Hadlock (3), Oak Harbor (2), Chimacum (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