Woodbury
RANK #597 / 996 NAT · #16 / 18 MN · POP 268,651
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 scores 40/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#597). Median household income is $110,828 and job growth is running at +2.0%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Washington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $379,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,577/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Washington County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.0% clip. Home values shifted +1.6% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.41% of Washington County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.