RANK #545 / 1001 NAT · #27 / 36 MI · POP 369,822
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: -5%
Washtenaw County, Michigan, is distinguished by Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, which anchors the county's identity. Located in southeast Michigan, it sits about 25 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, offering a blend of urban amenities and natural landscapes. The Huron River flows through towns like Dexter, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti, contributing to the area's outdoor recreation opportunities, including kayaking and hiking. Commuting within the county and to nearby cities like Detroit is facilitated by major roadways such as I-94, US-23, and M-14, alongside public transit options like TheRide, which serves Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding townships.
Life in Washtenaw County offers diverse community experiences, from the cultural activities in Ann Arbor to the smaller, walkable downtowns of towns like Chelsea, Dexter, and Saline. The county is known for its highly rated public schools, including Ann Arbor Public Schools and Washtenaw International High School, making it attractive to families. The economy has shifted from manufacturing towards automation, research, and healthcare, largely influenced by the University of Michigan and related technology companies. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and energy sectors, alongside efforts to redevelop vacant properties into housing and commercial spaces.
Washtenaw County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.4% 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 8.2x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Stargate Michigan Campus (OpenAI, Oracle, Related Digital)
OpenAI, Oracle, Related Digital
|
$7,000M | Planned |
|
University of Michigan / Los Alamos National Laboratory High-Performance Computational Facility
University of Michigan, Los Alamos National Laboratory
|
$1,250M | Proposed |
|
Form8tion (Thor Equities) Data Center
Thor Equities (Form8tion unit)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Voyager Energy Storage
Voyager Energy Storage (electricity to be purchased by Consumers Energy)
|
$400M | Planned |
|
Washtenaw Solar Project
Invenergy (to be transferred to Consumers Energy)
|
$150M | Proposed |
|
White Tail Solar Project
Ranger Power (to be transferred to Consumers Energy)
|
$130M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Washtenaw County scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#545). Median household income is $89,180 and job growth is running at +0.6%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Washtenaw County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $374,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,463/month on average.
Population and employment in Washtenaw County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs +0.6%. Home values shifted +2.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 5.53% of Washtenaw County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.