B-

Washington, MO

Source:

Affordability Score: 69/100

Population: 21,524 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Washington, MO aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 21,524 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (69/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $85,025, median home value of $273,600, median rent of $881 per month, and 32.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,218 per month (studio $955, 1BR $995, 3BR $1,568, 4BR $1,812).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Washington, MO include rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.6% and poverty 6.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$85,025
Median household income
Education C
32.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $273,600 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,218/mo
2BR fair market rent (17% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$85,025
▲ 37% vs national
Per Capita Income
$43,589
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Poverty Rate
6.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$273,600
▼ 1% vs national
Median Rent
$881/mo
Owner Occupied
76.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,218/mo
▲ 2% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$955
1BR
$995
2BR
$1,218
3BR
$1,568
4BR
$1,812

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
32.7%
▲ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
58.7%
Median Age
44.1
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Washington, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 21,524. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Washington ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Washington, MO affordable?
Washington, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B- (69/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $85,025. Median home value is $273,600.
What is the cost of living in Washington?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $881/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,218/mo. Median home value $273,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →