In Washington County, Ohio, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Washington County, 18.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 74% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 52% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 55.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 43.3.
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 isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 55.0 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.3% · August 202565th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.8% · second quarter of 202652nd percentile
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- 51.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.8% · 202455th percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.9% · 202459th percentile
- People with a disability16.4% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
- People without health insurance6.2% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$65,321 · 202454th percentile
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- 47.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.0% · August 202538th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people143.4 · 202557th percentile
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- 44.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202653rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.5% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
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- 43.3 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 rent19.9% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.4% · fiscal year 202725th 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, 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Ohio
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 27.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, Ohio, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.1%; 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 11.2% in 2011 to 12.8% in 2012.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 13.5%
Low on the chart: 11.1% 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, Ohio.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise, from 59,807 in 1974 to 63,760 in 1979.
Washington County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 64,165 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Ohio.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Washington County rose 17% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
Biggest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 24,053. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Ohio.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.3% | 2025 4.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.5% | 2024 13.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,299 | 2024 $65,321 |
The table uses 4.9% for 2025; the score uses 4.1% 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
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 64,266. The 2020 Census counted 59,771, 93% of the peak. Census Bureau
1998
A flash flood in June 1998 did $10 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
A thunderstorm in June 2012 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flood in April 2024 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1968
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 11 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Washington County, in Ohio and West Virginia, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 7th of the eight; Monroe County is highest, at 35.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens County, OH | 72 | 25.3% | 29.0% |
| Morgan County, OH | 58 | 14.8% | 33.7% |
| Wood County, WV | 58 | 15.5% | 27.8% |
| Tyler County, WV | 56 | 16.6% | 26.7% |
| Washington County, OH | 47 | 13.8% | 27.1% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 47 | 15.9% | 33.7% |
| Monroe County, OH | 46 | 13.8% | 35.9% |
| Noble County, OH | 39 | 13.9% | 30.3% |
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 Ohio?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 13.8% in 2024, 28th highest of 88 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Athens County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 46th of 88 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 Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO)
Legal aid
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Ohio Legal Help
Legal help website
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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.