City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Washington, PA

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.

13,361
Residents
$52,350
Median income
$121,000
Median home
$1,299
Median rent (state)

Washington - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Washington lands in the 23rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

23rd
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, PA

Washington is a small town in Pennsylvania, home to 13,361 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $52,350 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.5%. Typical homes in Washington are valued around $121,000, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. About 19.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Washington (Construction Slowdown), down 67% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 51.4°F with 41.3 inches of precipitation per year and 31.9 inches of snowfall.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Pennsylvania scores 97.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,299 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). Commute times here average 18.3 minutes, with 69.1% driving alone and 9.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 83.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

13,361 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$52,350 /yr

Poverty 10.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Washington compare to other US cities?

Washington measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Washington against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Pennsylvania only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Pennsylvania's city distribution

Among the 1,790 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Washington ranks #1,282 - the 28th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Washington only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,390 of 1,765
21st percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#685 of 1,865
45th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#1,282 of 1,790
28th percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#529 of 1,856
71st percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,068 of 1,861
42nd percentile in Pennsylvania

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Pennsylvania only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

23rdIncome percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Washington's home value compares nationally

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

$121,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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, PA Washington, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Washington, PA-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, PA median $52,350/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, PA'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, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.8%

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

Population
13,361
Median Income
$52,350
Median Home Value
$121,000
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Labor force participation
58.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.4°F
Annual Precipitation
41.3"
Annual Snowfall
31.9"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,000 residents13,200 residents13,400 residents13,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,131 residents 13,377 residents ▲ +1.9%
Washington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 3
2021 3
2022 4
2023 3
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.3 minutes
Drive Alone
69.1%
Carpool
11.0%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
8.7%
Work from Home
9.0%
Other
1.4%

Based on 6,621 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,299/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Pottsville
13,374 people
Kingston
13,333 people
Coatesville
13,323 people
Butler
13,306 people
Montgomeryville
13,572 people
Carnot-Moon
13,639 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Washington's 13,361 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake Forest Park, WA
13,356 people
Pell City, AL
13,353 people
Atlantic Beach, FL
13,353 people
Western Springs, IL
13,353 people
Chino Valley, AZ
13,372 people
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
13,373 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Washington's $52,350 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huntington, MA
$52,344 median income
Charlevoix, MI
$52,344 median income
Warden, WA
$52,344 median income
Liberty, TX
$52,341 median income
Vandercook Lake, MI
$52,337 median income
Hendersonville, NC
$52,337 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Washington, PA 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, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.9% 13.7% 8.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.4% White 73.9% Black or African American 13.7% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 8.8% 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 Pennsylvania 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) 13,361 $52,350
Pottsville 13,374 $53,465
Kingston 13,333 $53,885
Coatesville 13,323 $57,323
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Washington, PA?

What is the population of Washington, PA? +

Washington, PA has a population of 13,361 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Washington, the typical household earns $52,350 per year, 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 Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

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

A typical home in Washington is worth $121,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Washington? +

Climate normals put Washington's yearly average temperature at 51.4°F, 41.3 inches of precipitation, and 31.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.