RANK #984 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 18 OR · POP 603,947
1YR FORECAST: -2.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +6%
Washington County, Oregon, distinguishes itself with the Tualatin Valley, a fertile area framed by the Tualatin Mountains to the east and north, the Chehalem Mountains to the south, and the Northern Oregon Coast Range to the west. Hillsboro, the county seat and largest city, is located approximately 20 miles west of Portland, offering a suburban feel with urban amenities. The Tualatin River flows through the county, providing opportunities for recreation and contributing to the area's natural beauty. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Henry Hagg Lake for fishing, boating, and biking trails, or visit the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve for walking and wildlife viewing. Public transportation, including buses, MAX Light Rail, and WES Commuter Rail, connects residents throughout the county and to the wider Portland metropolitan area.
Life in Washington County offers a blend of suburban living and access to nature, appealing to families and professionals. The public schools in the county are rated above average, with several districts consistently recognized for their performance. The local economy is significantly influenced by the "Silicon Forest," a concentration of technology companies. While the county has seen job growth, particularly in computer and electronic product manufacturing, administrative services, and food services, there has been a recent leveling off in overall employment growth. The county actively supports economic development through programs focused on business growth and workforce development, often in collaboration with local partners.
Washington County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.0% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 13.1x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Big Meeks Energy Storage
Undisclosed (BlackRock company Jupiter Power is involved in Blackberry Grove, another Washington County BESS project)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Crane Data Centers Campus (Forest Grove)
Crane Data Centers
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Blackberry Grove Energy Storage Facility
Jupiter Power (a BlackRock company)
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Nottingham Storage Project (Battery Energy Storage System)
BrightNight (under contract with Portland General Electric)
|
$86M | Planned |
|
Meadowlark BESS (Battery Energy Storage System)
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, LLC
|
$80M | Planned |
|
Affordable Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing Initiatives
Washington County Department of Housing Services & partners
|
$40M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Washington County scores just 1/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #984 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -2.1% and median household income of $107,772 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Washington County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $588,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,849/month on average.
Washington County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.1%. Housing values changed -3.0% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.02% 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.