Cost of Living in Washington County, Minnesota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Washington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washington County ranks #3,009 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 4%)
Sourced county brief
Median gross rent in Washington County exceeds state unweighted mean
In Washington County, the median gross rent is estimated at $1,710 per month, which is $772 above the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $938. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 30.6%. This figure is 3.3 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 27.3%. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units is $1,812, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,116. The median home value in the county was estimated at $422,000, while the state unweighted county mean for home values is $238,336. Among renter-occupied households, the median income is $65,980. These figures are based on the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and describe the housing cost environment as a snapshot. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Washington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.6% of renter household income in Washington County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,710 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,812. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $68,400 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Minnesota unweighted mean of county median rents is $938 per month. Washington County's $1,710 median is 82.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Washington County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,691
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.9%
of gross income
The median home in Washington County may be a stretch
Median home value is $422,000. Estimated monthly cost: $3,369 vs. your max of $2,691.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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