Washington County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.5 | 278,936 people · 79th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Washington County, MN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.5 — 2970th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Minnesota, it ranks 79th of 87 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Washington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 57.4 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 57.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Employment & Wages 56.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 34
Debt & Delinquency 18.4
Debt in Collections 3
Medical Debt 14
Student Loan Delinquency 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 8
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Community Vulnerability 4.0
Uninsured Rate 4
Disability Rate 4
Income & Poverty 1.5
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 1

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Washington County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
Washington County, MN 27.5 Healthy —
Ramsey County, MN 44.8 Normal +17.3
Polk County, WI 37.3 Normal +9.8
Chisago County, MN 36.2 Normal +8.7
Pierce County, WI 34.0 Healthy +6.5
Anoka County, MN 32.5 Healthy +5.0
Dakota County, MN 30.5 Healthy +3.0
St. Croix County, WI 25.9 Healthy -1.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
San Mateo County, CA 27.5 Healthy +0.0
Benton County, AR 27.0 Healthy -0.5
Davis County, UT 28.1 Healthy +0.6
Montgomery County, PA 26.9 Healthy -0.6
DuPage County, IL 28.5 Healthy +1.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Washington County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Washington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Washington County.

WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Woodbury
651-458-0936 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Minnesota →

Find an Attorney

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 612-278-6333

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Washington County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-334-5970
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-332-1441
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 1-888-575-2954
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc. (612) 334-5970
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (800) 933-1112
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation (800) 450-8585

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Minnesota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Washington County, Minnesota?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 27.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,970th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 79th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 57.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (27.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Ramsey County, MN (44.8); Polk County, WI (37.3); Chisago County, MN (36.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Washington County?

    Washington County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 278,936 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.