RANK #721 / 996 · POP 268,651 · MN
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.1%
Stillwater, the county seat of Washington County, is known as the "Birthplace of Minnesota" due to a convention held there in 1848 that led to the creation of the Minnesota Territory. Located in the eastern part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, Washington County borders Wisconsin along the scenic St. Croix River. Commuting to downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis typically takes under 30 minutes, with public transportation options including express buses and dial-a-ride services. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, with over 5,000 acres of parkland, numerous lakes, and trails for hiking, biking, camping, and cross-country skiing.
Life in Washington County combines suburban amenities with access to natural landscapes. Many families and young professionals reside here, with public schools in districts like Mahtomedi and South Washington County receiving high ratings. The economy is diverse, with major employers including Andersen Windows and local school districts. The county is experiencing population growth, particularly among 25- to 34-year-olds, and actively supports small businesses and entrepreneurs through programs like Open to Business. Recent economic developments include investments in affordable housing and broadband infrastructure.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Community Solar Portfolio
Various (Scandia CSG LLC, Cypress Creek Renewables, Sherman Associates, Novel Energy Solutions, etc.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Washington County has a Boom Town Index score of 28/100, ranking #721 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.0% and a median household income of $110,828, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Washington County is $379,300 with median rent at $1,577/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2922, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.0%. Home values changed +1.6% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.41% of Washington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.