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Living in
Washington.
About
Life in Washington
Living in Washington means settling into a quiet exurb just 50 miles west of St. Louis—close enough to tap into city job markets and culture, but far enough removed that you're not paying St. Louis prices or dealing with urban density.
Washington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
0.9%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+8.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.9% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Washington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Washington, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (29.5%), and 0.9% of residents speak German/Germanic at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
20.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.5%
of households
Married Couples
51.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Washington
In Washington, rent runs 20% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,717
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $303,175 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Washington
Unemployment in Franklin County, which includes Washington, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Washington: Franklin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Franklin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Washington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.1 min avg
How Washington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Washington, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Washington runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
292.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,277.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Washington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Franklin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Franklin County, which includes Washington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Hail | $1.7M |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $112,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Franklin County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 33 miles from Washington) is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jefferson County, MO (33 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Washington has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.1"
Annual Snowfall
7.9"
Hot Days/Year
40
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 20°F | 2.52" |
| Feb | 45°F | 23°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 56°F | 32°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 4.57" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.30" |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 3.75" |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.71" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.37" |
| Nov | 55°F | 33°F | 3.67" |
| Dec | 45°F | 24°F | 2.64" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Washington
Washington has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Mercy Hospital Washington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Washington
Washington's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Washington (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 1,639 students · in-state tuition $4,392 · 36% graduate · median earnings $41,402 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Washington
Washington has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
45 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
66 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
79 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Washington
Washington Public Library
410 Lafayette St, Washington
Cities Near Washington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Washington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Washington FAQ
Is Washington, Missouri affordable?⌄
Washington's median rent is $827/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $79,173/year. Median home value is $231,800.
Is Washington, Missouri safe?⌄
Washington's violent crime rate was 292 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1278 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Washington, Missouri?⌄
Franklin County, which includes Washington, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Washington, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Washington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $827/month and median household income is $79,173/year. The median home value is $231,800. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Washington, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Washington is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from