RANK #185 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 29 WI · POP 137,879
1YR FORECAST: +3.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
Washington County, Wisconsin, is often recognized for Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, a prominent landmark offering scenic views from one of southeastern Wisconsin's highest elevations. Located northwest of Milwaukee, the county provides a blend of urban and rural living. Commuting to Milwaukee is possible via the Washington County Commuter Express, which also connects to Milwaukee County Transit Services. The community feel across towns like West Bend, the county seat, and Germantown, with its European influences, emphasizes local events and historical preservation. The county also features over 1,200 acres of parks, numerous hiking trails, and access to the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, offering extensive outdoor recreation.
Life in Washington County appeals to families and young professionals, with many residents owning their homes. The public school systems are highly rated, contributing to the area's quality of life. The economy is supported by a manufacturing heritage, with companies producing consumer products. Recent economic developments include efforts to attract working-age families and address housing needs through initiatives that incentivize private sector construction of new homes. The county also focuses on entrepreneurship, with investments in small business loans.
Washington County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.7% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 13.5x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Next Generation Housing Initiative (Multiple Developments)
Washington County & various builders (e.g., Regal Place, LLC, A&N Contracting)
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Wisconsin Reliability Project (Natural Gas Infrastructure)
TC Energy (ANR Pipeline Company)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio
We Energies
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Washington County ranks #185 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.8% year-over-year). Median household income here is $96,359.
Housing in Washington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $344,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,153/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Washington County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs -0.8%. Home values shifted +6.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.19% 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.
Home values climbed +6.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Washington County is now valued at $344,800. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.