Unemployment in Washington County, Florida, is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties
In Washington County, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 83.6. Late payments on loans come next, at 73.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Washington County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Washington County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (78.1, 2025) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (14.9%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 83.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202690th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.7% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
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- 73.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.5% · August 202587th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.7% · August 202557th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score47.9% · second quarter of 202674th percentile
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- 72.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.9% · 202464th percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.9% · 202464th percentile
- People with a disability20.4% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
- People without health insurance14.1% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$61,932 · 202464th percentile
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- 50.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.8% · August 202576th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people78.1 · 202524th percentile
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- 37.4 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent14.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income20.2% · fiscal year 202744th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Washington County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Washington County, 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, but pay from work still brings in 37% more than benefit checks in 2024
In Washington County, Florida, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 35.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 18.8% in 2019 to 15.5% in 2020.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 12.4%
Low on the chart: 9.2% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Washington County, Florida.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population more than doubled to 26,503, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1994 to 1999, reaching 20,870. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Florida.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Washington County rose by about half to 6,397, the highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
Biggest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 5,319. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Florida.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.0% | 2025 4.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 22.4% | 2024 14.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $17,190 | 2024 $61,932 |
The table uses 4.8% for 2025; the score uses 5.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Washington County's history
1825
Created in 1825 and was nearly twice the size of the State of Delaware, stretching all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Wikipedia
2001
A tornado in March 2001 did $1.5 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in July 2013 did $18.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 25,318, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2020
A flash flood in September 2020 did $18.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A tornado in March 2022 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1975
38 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Washington County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 3rd of the five; Jackson County is highest, at 39.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, FL | 88 | 19.4% | 39.2% |
| Holmes County, FL | 83 | 18.7% | 37.7% |
| Washington County, FL | 72 | 14.9% | 35.6% |
| Bay County, FL | 64 | 11.6% | 24.4% |
| Walton County, FL | 50 | 10.6% | 13.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Washington County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 14.9% in 2024, 28th highest of 67 in Florida (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hamilton County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 41st of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Washington County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services of North Florida
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Washington County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Washington County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.