What are the schools like in Washington, NC?

Washington is served primarily by Beaufort County Schools. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.4:1.

What is the median household income in Washington?

The median household income in Washington, NC is $42,821 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Washington, NC?

Washington has an average high temperature of 52.7°F in January and 88.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Washington, NC 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 $170,700 and the median rent is $827 per month.

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

Washington has a violent crime rate of 520.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3379.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Washington, NC a Good Place to Live?

Washington is a small town of 9,759 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $42,821 and a 5.6% 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, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 91.6

Washington's overall cost of living index is 91.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Washington, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$170,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$827	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,821	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Washington's violent crime rate is 520.0 per 100,000 residents — 37% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

520.0 /100k

Property Crime

3379.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Washington is served primarily by Beaufort County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Washington, NC	National Avg
School District	Beaufort County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Washington sees average highs of 52.7°F in January and 88.8°F in July, with 53.0 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Washington, NC
Average High — January	52.7°F
Average High — July	88.8°F
Annual Precipitation	53.0"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Washington, NC	National Avg
Population	9,759	—
Median Age	46.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	49.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	43.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	21.5%	22.2%
65 and over	23.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Washington Park, NC 2 mi Chocowinity, NC 4 mi Cypress Landing, NC 4 mi River Road, NC 5 mi Grimesland, NC 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Washington

Washington, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27889

Washington vs Other Cities

Washington, NC vs Washington Park, NC Washington, NC vs Chocowinity, NC Washington, NC vs Cypress Landing, NC Washington, NC vs River Road, NC Washington, NC vs Grimesland, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington, NC 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 $170,700 and median rent is $827/month.

What is the crime rate in Washington, NC?

Washington's violent crime rate is 520.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3379.8 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 Beaufort County Schools. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Washington, NC a good place to live?

Washington, NC has a population of 9,759, a median household income of $42,821, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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 52.7°F in January and 88.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.0 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Washington?

Washington, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27889.

What is the population of Washington?

The population of Washington, North Carolina is 9,759 with a median age of 46.2. 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 $170,700, median household income $42,821, crime index 146 (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.