RANK #677 / 1001 NAT · #37 / 44 PA · POP 210,042
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Washington County, Pennsylvania, distinguishes itself with a rich history, notably as the site of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, with the preserved David Bradford House serving as a museum. Located less than 30 minutes south of downtown Pittsburgh, the county offers a blend of small-town and rural settings with convenient interstate access. Commute options include local bus services and suburban park-and-ride lots for those traveling to Pittsburgh. The landscape features rolling hills and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities across 5,500 acres of parkland, including Mingo Creek, Cross Creek, and Ten Mile Creek County Parks, and a portion of the Panhandle Trail. The county is also known for its 23 historic covered bridges, celebrated annually during a festival.
Life in Washington County offers a mix of suburban and rural living, attracting families, young professionals, and retirees. Public schools in the county generally perform above average, with districts like Peters Township and Canon-McMillan ranking highly in the Pittsburgh region. The local economy is diverse, with significant activity in energy, particularly natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale, and growing investments in data centers and industrial/logistics sectors. Southpointe, a large business park, is a notable economic hub within the county.
Washington County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.9% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.3x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Zediker Station Data Center Campus
CNX Resources Corp. / JLL
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Fort Cherry Development District Natural Gas Power Plant
Liberty Energy Inc., Imperial Land Corp., Range Resources
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Mitchell Power Station Redevelopment (Industrial/Logistics/Energy)
Canastrale Properties
|
$100M | Planned |
|
West Finley Data Center
Next Generation Land Company
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Southpointe Development (Multi-use)
Washington County Redevelopment Authority
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 32/100, Washington County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $78,958 combined with job growth of +2.2% 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 $228,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $949/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Washington County are hiring — job growth of +2.2% — but the population is close to flat (+0.1% YoY). Home values moved +2.9% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.0% 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.