What it's like to live in Washington
Washington is a small city in Missouri with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Washington deals with cold winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Washington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Washington
Based on Washington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,654
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,080 a year
- 43% of Washington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,180
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 41% below US
$827/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $827 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $231,800. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $231,800 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Franklin County is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Franklin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 11% below US
292 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1278/100k · Washington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 10% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (36 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Washington's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($827/mo) equals 13% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Washington
All Missouri guides →Moving to Wildwood →
19 mi away · pop. 35,133
Rent $1,661/mo · Income $161,060
Compare with Washington →Moving to Wentzville →
20 mi away · pop. 47,061
Rent $1,345/mo · Income $112,394
Compare with Washington →Not sure Washington is the one?
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