About one in 16 people in Washington County, Vermont, lives below the poverty line
In Washington County, 6.1% of people lived below the poverty line. That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 93% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 70.2. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 8.0. People with a car or retail loan behind: 2.0%, August 2025, lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
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.
Even so, Washington County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (24.9%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 70.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.4% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.9% · fiscal year 202782nd percentile
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- 10.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line6.1% · 20242nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.4% · 20244th percentile
- People with a disability13.6% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- People without health insurance3.1% · 2020 to 20242nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$86,050 · 202413th percentile
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- 9.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector13.4% · August 202513th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people39.9 · 20255th percentile
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- 8.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.8% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
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- 8.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.9% · August 202510th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.0% · August 20255th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score27.9% · second quarter of 20268th 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, 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Vermont
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Washington County had its largest rise, from 15.9% in 2004 to 20.7% in 2009.
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 20.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, Vermont, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.2%; 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 10.6% in 2015 to 12.0% in 2016.
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 10.1%
Low on the chart: 8.0% in 2009. 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, Vermont.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise, from 46,985 in 1969 to 50,035 in 1974.
Washington County's population rose by about a quarter from 1969 to 2024, reaching 59,844, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 59,844. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Vermont.
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 quarter to 33,302, the highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 32,006. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Vermont.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.2% | 2025 2.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.6% | 2024 6.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,731 | 2024 $86,050 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Washington County's history
1935
Wrightsville Dam built by Civilian Conservation Corps 1933-1935. Wikipedia
1935
Village of Wrightsville flooded by Wrightsville Reservoir. Wikipedia
1992
Downtown Montpelier flooded by ice jam in March 1992. Wikipedia
1996
Lightning in June 1996 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flash flood in August 2011 did $60 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in August 2011 did $15 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 59,807, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2023
Heavy rains caused catastrophic flooding in July 2023. Wikipedia
2023
A flash flood in July 2023 did $100 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
33 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 25 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Washington County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 3rd of the six; Caledonia County is highest, at 27.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonia County, VT | 20 | 11.0% | 27.3% |
| Orange County, VT | 12 | 9.8% | 23.0% |
| Addison County, VT | 7 | 8.0% | 18.4% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 7 | 8.9% | 14.7% |
| Washington County, VT | 6 | 6.1% | 20.2% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 5 | 8.9% | 18.6% |
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 Vermont?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 6.1% in 2024, the lowest of 14 in Vermont (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Essex County, at 13.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 13th of 14 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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Vermont Legal Aid
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.