In Washington County, Tennessee, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Washington County, 22.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 66% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 67.8. Bankruptcy filings ran at 212.4 per 100,000 people (2025), higher than in 77% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 65.4.
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: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.2%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and people with a credit card behind (4.8%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 67.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector25.4% · August 202558th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people212.4 · 202577th percentile
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- 65.4 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 rent20.5% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.4% · fiscal year 202766th percentile
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- 55.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.0% · 202448th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.0% · 202444th percentile
- People with a disability17.0% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- People without health insurance10.4% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$64,816 · 202455th percentile
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- 44.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.8% · August 202538th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.0% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.5% · second quarter of 202647th percentile
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- 39.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202621st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.9% · 2020 to 202457th 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, 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Tennessee
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, Tennessee, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.0%; 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 rose most in two steps: 10.4% in 2010 to 11.8% in 2011; 13.0% in 2012 to 14.4% in 2013.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 8.6%
Low on the chart: 8.4% 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, Tennessee.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise, from 111,849 in 2004 to 121,692 in 2009.
Washington County's population doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 139,642, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 91,468. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Tennessee.
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 63,282, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 50,926. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Tennessee.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.5% | 2025 3.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.6% | 2024 13.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,969 | 2024 $64,816 |
The table uses 3.3% for 2025; the score uses 3.2% 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
1777
Established in 1777 when Tennessee was still part of North Carolina, making it Tennessee's oldest county. Wikipedia
2011
A tornado in April 2011 did $3 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
A flash flood in August 2012 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flood in May 2018 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 133,001, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2024
A flash flood in September 2024 did $39 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
All five counties that border Washington County score higher than it does. Of the group, Washington County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Unicoi County gets the largest, at 37.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County, TN | 85 | 16.1% | 34.5% |
| Greene County, TN | 72 | 16.3% | 36.1% |
| Unicoi County, TN | 71 | 14.4% | 37.8% |
| Hawkins County, TN | 71 | 13.6% | 34.4% |
| Sullivan County, TN | 64 | 15.7% | 27.8% |
| Washington County, TN | 56 | 13.0% | 25.0% |
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 Tennessee?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 13.0% in 2024, 67th highest of 95 in Tennessee (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Lake County, at 31.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 67th of 95 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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Eastern Eight Community Development Corp.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Legal aid
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Tennessee Justice Center
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.