City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Washington, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Washington - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,948
Residents
$78,510
Median income
$217,500
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Washington - the verdict

Nationally, Washington sits in the 60th percentile for household income and the 46th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

60th
percentile, household income
48th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
46th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Washington, MO

Washington is a small town in Missouri, home to 14,948 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $78,510 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.1%. Washington's housing stock carries a median value of $217,500, and the median resident age is 41.1 years. 31.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 230 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 111% from five years earlier. Washington reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1496.2 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 54.8°F with 44.1 inches of precipitation per year and 7.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: the state registers 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,218 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $219 across Missouri, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 83.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

14,948 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$78,510 /yr

Poverty 5.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Washington compare to other US cities?

Here's how Washington stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 48% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities
Safety 46% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Missouri alone, Washington ranks #125 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Washington's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Missouri, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

60thIncome percentile
46thSafety percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income · 46th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Washington's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Washington's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Washington's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Washington's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$217,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 52% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Washington $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Washington, MO Washington, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Washington, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Washington, MO median $78,510/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Washington, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Washington, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,948
Median Income
$78,510
Median Home Value
$217,500
Median Age
41.1
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Labor force participation
63.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1496.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
254.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1241.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.8°F
Annual Precipitation
44.1"
Annual Snowfall
7.9"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
14,500 residents15,000 residents15,500 residents16,000 residents16,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,701 residents 15,906 residents ▲ +8.2%
Washington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
230
housing units authorized
Single-Family
162
detached homes
Multifamily
68
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
15.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 109
2020 156
2021 97
2022 260
2023 66
2024 230

Permit volume increased 111% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.1%
Carpool
6.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.1%
Work from Home
12.2%
Other
0.6%

Based on 7,234 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Washington sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,218/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Lebanon
15,157 people
Fort Leonard Wood
15,317 people
Carthage
15,513 people
Jackson
15,532 people
Overland
15,762 people
Grain Valley
15,967 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Washington's 14,948 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hazel Park, MI
14,945 people
South Farmingdale, NY
14,953 people
Lemon Hill, CA
14,942 people
Lilburn, GA
14,939 people
Lake Arbor, MD
14,932 people
Spring Creek, NV
14,967 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Washington's $78,510 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Buckhorn, CA
$78,510 median income
Chillum, MD
$78,513 median income
Stoughton, WI
$78,517 median income
Nelson, GA
$78,500 median income
Holiday Hills, IL
$78,500 median income
New Lothrop, MI
$78,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Washington, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Washington, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.7% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 91.7% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 7.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Washington compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Washington (this city) 14,948 $78,510
Lebanon 15,157 $42,157
Fort Leonard Wood 15,317 $68,629
Carthage 15,513 $50,849
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Washington, MO?

What is the population of Washington, MO? +

Washington, MO counts 14,948 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Washington, MO? +

Washington households earn a median of $78,510 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Washington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Washington; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

Is Washington, MO safe? +

Washington has a total crime rate of 1496.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Washington, MO? +

Homes in Washington carry a median value of $217,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Washington? +

Washington has an average annual temperature of 54.8°F, 44.1 inches of precipitation, and 7.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.