Washington, North Carolina

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Washington, compared with North Carolina and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Washington city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 3771220 · North Carolina directory

Population · July 1, 2025
9,910 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
-0.6% -64 residents
Household income
$40,186 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$6,752
Home value
$206,800 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$16,486
Monthly gross rent
$856 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$73
Median age
46.8 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±5.5
Washington, North Carolina location in the United States Washington, North Carolina
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Washington is an incorporated city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, part of the Washington, NC micropolitan area. With 9,910 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 94th in North Carolina and 3,245th nationally among Census places. Its population fell by 64 (0.6%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has declined 1.5%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $856 a month, 30.3% below the North Carolina median. Median household income is $40,186, 44.5% below the North Carolina median.

What stands out in Washington?

Compared with other North Carolina places, Washington is most distinctive for less remote and home-based work, more renters and slower population growth. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Workers who work from home: 6.6%, 9.7 percentage points below the North Carolina rate (16.3%); lower than 92% of 195 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Homeownership rate: 46.4%, 20.2 percentage points below the North Carolina rate (66.6%); lower than 91% of 524 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Population change since April 2020: -1.5%; lower than 88% of 530 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Median household income: $40,186, 44.5% below the North Carolina median ($72,388); lower than 86% of 451 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Jobs located in the place per 100 residents: 85.1; higher than 81% of 397 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.

How Washington compares with North Carolina and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among North Carolina places with reliable estimates
Measure Washington North Carolina U.S. Position in North Carolina
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 -1.5% — — lower than 88% of 530 North Carolina places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 1,258 — — higher than 78% of 549 North Carolina places
Median household income B19013 $40,186 ±$6,752 $72,388 $80,734 lower than 86% of 451 North Carolina places
Median home value B25077 $206,800 ±$16,486 $288,900 $332,700 lower than 51% of 496 North Carolina places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $1,729 ±$114 $1,896 $3,119 higher than 61% of 514 North Carolina places
Median gross rent B25064 $856 ±$73 $1,228 $1,413 lower than 65% of 429 North Carolina places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 60.9% ±13.5 pp 48.9% 51.1% higher than 75% of 268 North Carolina places
Homeownership rate B25003 46.4% ±4.9 pp 66.6% 65.2% lower than 91% of 524 North Carolina places
Median age B01002 46.8 years ±5.5 39.1 years 38.9 years higher than 71% of 515 North Carolina places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 24.0% ±4.3 pp 35.7% 35.7% lower than 58% of 395 North Carolina places
Poverty rate B17001 23.1% ±6.1 pp 13.0% 12.5% higher than 69% of 249 North Carolina places
People without health insurance B27010 7.9% ±3.2 pp 9.9% 8.4% lower than 72% of 238 North Carolina places
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 87.3% ±4.1 pp 90.1% 91.0% lower than 53% of 520 North Carolina places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 3.5% ±2.2 pp · low precision 4.7% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 3.6% ±2.1 pp · low precision 9.1% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 85.1 — — higher than 81% of 397 North Carolina places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +8.4% — — higher than 56% of 363 North Carolina places
Workers who work from home B08301 6.6% ±3.0 pp 16.3% 15.1% lower than 92% of 195 North Carolina places
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 10.8% ±5.5 pp · low precision 13.9% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 12.4% ±3.7 pp 5.3% 8.4% higher than 65% of 108 North Carolina places

Positions compare Washington with North Carolina places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 3 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Washington?

The latest official estimate is 9,910 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 3,245th by population nationally and 94th in North Carolina among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 64 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Washington population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 9,368 to 10,363; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 10,363 9,368 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 10,057; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 10,061 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 9,884 -177
July 1, 2022 9,861 -23
July 1, 2023 9,901 +40
July 1, 2024 9,974 +73
July 1, 2025 9,910 -64

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is −147 residents (-1.5%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Washington city, North Carolina · Incorporated city · 3771220
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Beaufort County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Washington, NC — Micropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
7.9 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.9 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
1,258 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
35.564697°, -77.047794° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $40,186 ±$6,752 $72,388 ±$324 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $30,358 ±$3,882 $41,385 ±$211 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 9,416
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 2,177 ±574 23.1% ±6.1 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 23.1% (±6.1 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $206,800 ±$16,486 $288,900 ±$1,086 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $856 ±$73 $1,228 ±$5 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 4,709
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 2,185 ±261 46.4% ±4.9 pp
Renter occupied 2,524 ±306 53.6% ±5.8 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 46.4% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 5.1 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) $850 ±$223 Estimate with MOE
1 bedroom $576 ±$119 Estimate with MOE
2 bedrooms $872 ±$65 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $970 ±$69 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms $636 ±$374 Low precision
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 8,178
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 4,540 ±426 55.5% ±4.7 pp
Not in the labor force 3,638 ±439 44.5% ±5.0 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 4,540
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 4,381 ±446 96.5% ±3.8 pp
Civilian unemployed 159 ±101 · low precision 3.5% ±2.2 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Washington wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Washington. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 27.3% (1,195 people; ±5.7 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 4,381
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 15 ±34 · low precision 0.3% ±0.8 pp · low precision
Construction 164 ±141 · low precision 3.7% ±3.2 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 792 ±244 18.1% ±5.3 pp
Wholesale trade 61 ±55 · low precision 1.4% ±1.3 pp · low precision
Retail trade 394 ±180 9.0% ±4.0 pp
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 132 ±114 · low precision 3.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Information 68 ±63 · low precision 1.6% ±1.4 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 463 ±246 · low precision 10.6% ±5.5 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 175 ±122 · low precision 4.0% ±2.7 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 1,195 ±279 27.3% ±5.7 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 265 ±128 6.0% ±2.9 pp
Other services, except public administration 368 ±139 8.4% ±3.1 pp
Public administration 289 ±151 · low precision 6.6% ±3.4 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 4,381
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 1,432 ±261 32.7% ±4.9 pp
Service occupations 889 ±232 20.3% ±4.9 pp
Sales and office 985 ±302 22.5% ±6.5 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 349 ±164 8.0% ±3.6 pp
Production, transportation and material moving 726 ±251 16.6% ±5.5 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 4,381
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 264 ±127 6.0% ±2.8 pp
Computer and mathematical occupations 55 ±47 · low precision 1.3% ±1.1 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 232 ±106 5.3% ±2.4 pp
Health practitioners and technical occupations 288 ±138 6.6% ±3.1 pp
Sales and related occupations 287 ±139 6.6% ±3.1 pp
Transportation occupations 162 ±122 · low precision 3.7% ±2.8 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 4,340
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 3,435 ±459 79.1% ±6.8 pp
Carpooled 422 ±197 9.7% ±4.4 pp
Public transportation 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Bicycle 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Walked 102 ±78 · low precision 2.4% ±1.8 pp · low precision
Other means 94 ±73 · low precision 2.2% ±1.7 pp · low precision
Worked from home 287 ±133 6.6% ±3.0 pp
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 4,053
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 2,179 ±441 53.8% ±9.1 pp
15–29 minutes 837 ±246 20.7% ±5.6 pp
30–44 minutes 598 ±244 14.8% ±5.8 pp
45–59 minutes 125 ±79 · low precision 3.1% ±1.9 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 314 ±216 · low precision 7.7% ±5.3 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 4,709
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 583 ±177 12.4% ±3.7 pp

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 46.8 years (±5.5). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with North Carolina and the U.S.

Read Washington demographics →

How many jobs are located in Washington?

Employers in Washington reported 8,430 jobs in 2023, +8.4% compared with 2019 (7,780 jobs). That is 85.1 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Washington by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs North Carolina share
Wholesale trade 1,195 14.2% 4.4%
Manufacturing 1,104 13.1% 10.0%
Retail trade 1,104 13.1% 11.3%
Health care and social assistance 990 11.7% 13.9%
Public administration 986 11.7% 4.8%
Accommodation and food services 937 11.1% 9.1%
Educational services 711 8.4% 8.1%
Administrative, support and waste management services 339 4.0% 6.9%
Finance and insurance 260 3.1% 4.7%
Professional, scientific and technical services 228 2.7% 7.0%
Construction 156 1.9% 5.5%
Other services, except public administration 147 1.7% 2.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 90 1.1% 1.5%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 64 0.8% 1.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 52 0.6% 1.9%
Transportation and warehousing 41 0.5% 3.8%
Information 25 0.3% 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 1 0.0% 0.5%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Washington · 2023
Group Jobs Share North Carolina share
$1,250 a month or less 1,823 21.6% 18.1%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 3,104 36.8% 27.5%
More than $3,333 a month 3,503 41.6% 54.4%
Age 29 or younger 1,973 23.4% 22.7%
Age 30 to 54 4,258 50.5% 53.1%
Age 55 or older 2,199 26.1% 24.3%

Wholesale trade is the largest sector for jobs located in Washington (14.2% of local jobs, compared with 4.4% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

No station in the retained NOAA release meets our complete standard-normal criteria within 25 km of this place’s Census internal point. We leave local climate values unavailable. Use NOAA’s station lookup to inspect other locations and their coverage.

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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