What are the schools like in Washington, IA?

Washington is served primarily by Washington Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Washington?

The median household income in Washington, IA is $56,399 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Washington, IA?

Washington has an average high temperature of 30.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.2 inches.

Washington, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Washington, IA affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Washington is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $141,500 and the median rent is $915 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Washington, IA?

Washington has a violent crime rate of 221.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1869.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Washington, IA a Good Place to Live?

Washington is a small town of 7,329 in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,399 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Washington stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Washington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Washington city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.8

Washington's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Washington, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$141,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$915	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,399	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Washington's violent crime rate is 221.6 per 100,000 residents — 42% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

221.6 /100k

Property Crime

1869.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Washington is served primarily by Washington Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Washington, IA	National Avg
School District	Washington Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Washington sees average highs of 30.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 25.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Washington, IA
Average High — January	30.2°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	37.9"
Annual Snowfall	25.2"

Demographics

Metric	Washington, IA	National Avg
Population	7,329	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	22.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Chester, IA 7 mi Ainsworth, IA 7 mi Coppock, IA 9 mi Crawfordsville, IA 10 mi Wayland, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Washington

Washington, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52353

Washington vs Other Cities

Washington, IA vs West Chester, IA Washington, IA vs Ainsworth, IA Washington, IA vs Coppock, IA Washington, IA vs Crawfordsville, IA Washington, IA vs Wayland, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington, IA affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Washington roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $141,500 and median rent is $915/month.

What is the crime rate in Washington, IA?

Washington's violent crime rate is 221.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1869.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Washington?

Public schools in Washington are operated by Washington Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Washington, IA a good place to live?

Washington, IA has a population of 7,329, a median household income of $56,399, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Washington?

Washington averages 30.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 25.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Washington?

Washington, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52353.

What is the population of Washington?

The population of Washington, Iowa is 7,329 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Washington?

Key numbers for living in Washington: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $141,500, median household income $56,399, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Washington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.