City · North Dakota
Washburn, North Dakota
Washburn, city, in McLean County, North Dakota. Washburn had 1,254 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,300 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,507 (±205). GEOID 3883700.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,254
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,300 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,507 ±205
Median household income
$73,413
±$18,362 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $76,657
Median home value
$238,200
±$25,170 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $249,900
Median gross rent
$818
±$69 (90% margin)
North Dakota: $954
Where is Washburn and what county is it in?
Washburn is a city in McLean County, North Dakota. It covers 1.7 square miles of land, 772 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Washburn, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,254 people lived in Washburn on July 1, 2025, down 3.4% since 2020, while North Dakota grew 2.6%. The 2020 Census counted 1,300 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,507 (±205).
| Measure | Washburn | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,507 ±205 | 9,823 | no clear change |
| Households | 683 ±89 | 4,377 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.24 | 2.20 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 761 ±104 | 5,807 | no clear change |
Washburn's population since 2000
From 1,389 in 2000 to 1,254 in 2025: down 9.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Washburn as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Washburn?
The median resident of Washburn is 36.7 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 16.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.6%.
| Measure | Washburn | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 ±5.9 | 47.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.3% ±4.4 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.1% ±4.3 pts | 26.3% | – |
| Male | 53.0% ±4.0 pts | 51.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% ±2.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.0% ±3.5 pts | 88.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±1.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3% ±2.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| With a disability | 6.9% ±2.1 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3% ±2.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4% ±4.7 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.5% ±5.0 pts | 26.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.9% ±2.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.9% ±3.7 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Washburn earn?
Half of Washburn's 683 households earn less than $73,413 a year (±$18,362), against $83,583 in McLean County and $76,657 in North Dakota. In 2015-2019 the median was $101,599 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $28,186 after inflation. 10.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Washburn | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,413 ±$18,362 | $83,583 | −$28,186 |
| Mean household income | $92,691 ±$8,123 | $102,353 | – |
| Per capita income | $43,704 ±$4,937 | $45,317 | −$7,743 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.7% ±5.9 pts | 8.9% | +6.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.2% ±13.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.5% ±1.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.3% ±0.8 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.2% ±5.7 pts | 84.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Washburn?
Owners occupy 73.6% of Washburn's occupied homes and renters 26.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $238,200 by its owner (±$25,170). The median renter pays $818 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Washburn | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $238,200 ±$25,170 | $227,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $818 ±$69 | $784 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 14.4% ±13.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,688 ±$146 | $1,599 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.6% ±9.0 pts | 84.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.4% ±9.0 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Housing units | 761 ±104 | 5,807 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.6% ±12.8 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.4% ±8.0 pts | 83.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% ±3.0 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0% ±1.6 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.6% ±6.6 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Washburn building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Washburn in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.8 per 1,000 residents against 3.1 across North Dakota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Washburn work and get to work?
83.8% of Washburn's workers drive alone and 5.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.1 minutes.
| Measure | Washburn | McLean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.4% ±6.1 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.8% ±6.0 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.3% ±4.8 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.2% ±2.8 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.1 min ±2.7 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Washburn?
No census tract lies mostly in Washburn; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9608McLean County | 4,319 | $89,732 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Washburn) · Census block assignment files
How does Washburn compare with other places in North Dakota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Washburn is the 9,434th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 40th-most populous of 355 in North Dakota.
Washburn ranks 31st of 64 places in North Dakota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 40th | 355 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 46th | 62 |
| Residents per square mile | 40th | 67 |
| Median household income | 31st | 64 |
| Per capita income | 25th | 67 |
| Median home value | 27th | 59 |
| Median gross rent | 32nd | 56 |
| Poverty rate | 27th | 46 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38th | 65 |
| Median age | 33rd | 67 |
| Owner-occupied share | 23rd | 64 |
| Work from home | 27th | 32 |
| Travel time to work | 20th | 67 |
Washburn's figures with every place in North Dakota (CSV)
Every place in North Dakota, sortable · Compare Washburn with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Washburn?
22 of the 57 figures for Washburn on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Washburn are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Washburn.