In Washington County, Idaho, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Washington County, 24.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 79% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 60% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 74.7. Unemployment averaged 4.9%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, higher than in 76% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 70.6.
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: people with a credit card behind (3.1%, August 2025) and people with unpaid debt sent to a collector (18.0%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 74.7 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202676th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.8% · 2020 to 202473rd percentile
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- 70.6 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 rent20.0% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.3% · fiscal year 202779th percentile
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- 60.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.6% · 202445th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.0% · 202449th percentile
- People with a disability18.2% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- People without health insurance9.0% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$57,539 · 202476th percentile
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- 44.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.1% · August 202511th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.2% · second quarter of 202646th percentile
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- 34.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.0% · August 202530th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people105 · 202538th 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, 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Idaho
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Washington County had its largest rise, from 22.8% in 2004 to 27.5% in 2009.
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, but pay from work still brings in 36% more than benefit checks in 2024
In Washington County, Idaho, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 31.3%; 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 rise, from 15.2% in 2011 to 18.9% in 2012.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2012 and has since fallen to 11.1%
Low on the chart: 10.6% in 2023. 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, Idaho.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population rose by about half to 11,539, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 11,539. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Idaho.
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 a fifth from 1990 to 2025, reaching 2,928, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
High on the chart: 2,950 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Idaho.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.8% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 23.3% | 2024 12.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $17,954 | 2024 $57,539 |
The table uses 4.6% for 2025; the score uses 4.9% 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
1879
Established February 20, 1879 when Idaho was a territory. Wikipedia
1910
The county's largest recorded population was the 1910 Census count of 11,101. The 2020 Census counted 10,500, 95% of the peak. Census Bureau
2010
A flood in June 2010 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
A flood in February 2017 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1964
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Washington County, in Idaho and Oregon, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 3rd of the six; Malheur County is highest, at 40.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malheur County, OR | 61 | 18.5% | 40.2% |
| Washington County, ID | 60 | 12.6% | 31.3% |
| Baker County, OR | 51 | 13.6% | 34.4% |
| Adams County, ID | 39 | 12.4% | 29.2% |
| Payette County, ID | 25 | 12.7% | 24.0% |
| Gem County, ID | 24 | 12.3% | 28.1% |
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 Idaho?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 12.6% in 2024, 16th highest of 44 in Idaho (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Madison County, at 24.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 3rd of 44 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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Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc.
Legal aid
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Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program
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.