Cost of Living in Washington County, Wisconsin
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 #2,692 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 14%)
Sourced county brief
Washington County Median Home Value Reaches $344,800
The median home value in Washington County is $344,800, which is $110,714 above the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $234,086. For households with mortgages and other monthly expenses, the median selected monthly owner costs were $1,469, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,072. In the rental market, the median gross rent was $1,153 per month. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was estimated at 28.0%. This official B25071 value is 2.7 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.3%. Renter-household income was recorded at a median of $57,569, while the median income for all households was $96,359. These statistics are based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. 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 28.0% of renter household income in Washington County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,153 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,469. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $46,120 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 Wisconsin unweighted mean of county median rents is $916 per month. Washington County's $1,153 median is 25.9% 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
14.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,248
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.3%
of gross income
The median home in Washington County may be a stretch
Median home value is $344,800. Estimated monthly cost: $2,753 vs. your max of $2,248.
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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