RANK #775 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 18 MN · POP 276,238
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
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.
Washington County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.1% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.1x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
At 22/100, Washington County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $115,345 combined with job growth of +0.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Washington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $422,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,710/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Washington County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.9%). Home values shifted +2.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.86% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Washington County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.