Peters
RANK #543 / 996 NAT · #26 / 44 PA · POP 209,631
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
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.
Below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 996 counties.
Washington County scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#543). Median household income is $74,403 and job growth is running at +1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Washington County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $205,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $879/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Washington County are hiring — job growth of +1.4% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +1.7% 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 3.49% 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.