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Demographics

Last Content Update: Monday, March 24, 2025

The Washington County community has changed significantly over the last several decades and will continue to change in the decades to come. Our county is growing and becoming older, more diverse, and more educated. Explore the charts and graphs below to learn about demographics of the Washington County community.

Population | Households | Economy | Education and Diversity | Demographics At-A-Glance 2025 (PDF)

Population

County Population Growth

Chart Description: County Population Growth

Chart showing population growth in Washington County. The county’s population increased 12% from 2010 to 2020 and 4% from 2020 to 2023.

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Year	Population	Increase	Rate of change
2010	238,136	-	-
2020	267,568	29,432	12.4% since 2010
2023*	278,936	11,368	4.2% since 2020

Population by Decade

Chart Description: Population by Decade

Bar chart showing population by decade from 1990 to 2050. Dark green bars represent actual population numbers for each decade until 2020, and light green bars indicate projected population growth for 2030 and 2050. Population gradually increases from 90,000 in 1990 to a projected 335,272 by 2050. Source: U.S. Census, Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 Project.

*Source: U.S. Census, *Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 Forecast*
Year	Population (*Projected Population)
1990	145,896
2000	201,130
2010	238,136
2020	267,568
2030*	295,813
2040*	312,145
2050*	335,272

Residents 65 Years and Older

Bar chart showing the percentage of residents aged 65 and older in three different years.

Median Age

Chart Description: Residents 65 Years and Older

Bar chart showing the percentage of residents aged 65 and older in three different years. In 2010, 9.9%; in 2020, 16.0%; and in 2023, 17.3%. Data sourced from U.S. Census, American Community Survey.

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Year	Percentage of residents 65 years or older
2010	9.9%
2020	16.0%
2030*	17.3%

Chart Description: Median Age

Bar chart showing the median age in Washington County for the years 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2023*, with ages increasing from 35.2 in 2000 to 40.8 in 2023. Data sourced from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey.

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Year	Median Age
2000	35.2
2010	38.4
2020	39.5
2030*	40.8

Population Growth by Cities

*Source: U.S. Census and Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 Forecast*
City	2020	2030 (Projected)	2040 (Projected)	2050 (Projected)
Cottage Grove	38,839	45,325	47,858	52,322
Forest Lake	20,611	23,008	25,871	28,435
Hugo	15,766	18,442	20,529	23,486
Lake Elmo	11,335	15,242	16,848	18,968
Oakdale	28,303	31,875	32,543	34,618
Stillwater	19,394	19,599	20,455	22,154
Woodbury	75,102	81,918	85,014	89,524

Households

Average Household Size

Chart Description: Households

Bar chart showing the number of households from 1990 to 2010 and projected increases from 2030 to 2050. The number of households increases steadily, starting at 49,246 in 1990 and reaching 99,507 by 2020. Future projections show increases in increments of approximately 10,000 per decade. Data sourced from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey.

*Source: U.S. Census, *Metropolitan Council*
Year	Total Households
1990	49,246
2000	71,462
2010	87,859
2020	99,507
2030*	113,705
2040*	123,978
2050*	134,347

Chart Description: Average Household Size

Bar chart displaying the average household size in the years 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2023. Household sizes are 2.91, 2.95, 2.67, 2.65, and 2.61 respectively. Data sourced from U.S. Census and Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates, July 2024.

*Source: U.S. Census, *Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates, July 2024*
Year	Average Household Size
1990	2.91
2000	2.77
2010	2.67
2020	2.65
2023	2.61

Economy

People Who Live In Washington County: What County Do They Work In?

Pie chart displaying the distribution of counties where residents of Washington County work.

People Who Work In Washington County: What County Do They Live In?

Pie chart showing the distribution of counties where people employed in Washington County live.

Chart Description-People Who Live In Washington County: What County Do They Work In?

Pie chart displaying the distribution of counties where residents of Washington County work. It shows that 27.4% work in Washington County, 23.3% in Ramsey County, 16.0% in Hennepin County, 8.4% in Dakota County, 4.9% in Anoka County, 4.1% in St. Croix County, WI, 3.6% in Chisago County, 3.0% in Scott County, 1.9% in Goodhue County, and 9.5% in all other locations. The source is U.S. Census, OnTheMap Application, LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics.

*Source: U.S. Census, OnTheMap Application, LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics*
County	Percentage of Washington County residents who work in another county
Ramsey County, MN	27.5%
Hennepin County, MN	27.4%
Washington County, MN	23.3%
Dakota County, MN	8.4%
Anoka County, MN	4.3%
St. Croix County, WI	1.6%
Chisago County, MN	0.9%
Scott County, MN	0.6%
St. Louis County, MN	0.6%
Goodhue County, MN	0.5%
All Other Counties	4.9%

Chart Description-People Who Work In Washington County: What County Do They Live In?

Pie chart showing the distribution of counties where people employed in Washington County, MN, reside. The chart includes: Washington County (35.9%), Ramsey County (17.2%), Dakota County (8.7%), Anoka County (8.0%), St. Croix County, WI (6.7%), Hennepin County (5.8%), Polk County, WI (3.6%), Pierce County, WI (1.5%), and all other locations (12.6%). The source is U.S. Census, OnTheMap Application, LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics.

*Source: U.S. Census, OnTheMap Application and LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics*
County	Percentage of where workers in Washington County live
Washington County, MN	35.9%
Ramsey County, MN	17.2%
Dakota County, MN	8.7%
Hennepin County, MN	8.0%
St. Croix County, WI	6.7%
Anoka County, MN	5.8%
Chisago County, MN	3.5%
Polk County, MN	1.6%
Wright County, MN	1.0%
Pierce County, WI	0.9%
All Other Counties	10.7%

Employment

Chart Description: Employment

Bar chart displaying the number of jobs available in Washington County from 1990 to 2050. The job numbers increase from 41,954 in 1990 to a projected 116,173 in 2050, with data sourced from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 Forecast.

*Source: *Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, **Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 Forecasts*
Year	Jobs Available
1990*	41,954
2000*	67,649
2010*	71,957
2020**	76,671
2030**	97,879
2040**	106,359
2050**	116,173

Poverty Rate

Chart Description: Poverty Rate

Line graph titled 'Poverty Rate' showing changes in U.S. poverty rates from 1990 to 2023 sourced from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey. Rates decreased from 4.4% in 1990 to a low of 2.9% in 2000, rose to 5.8% in 2010, then decreased to 4.8% by 2023.

Poverty Rate

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Year	Percent of Poverty Rate
1990	4.4%
2000	2.9%
2005	3.8%
2010	5.8%
2020	4.4%
2023*	4.8%

Average Travel Time to Work

Line graph titled showing fluctuating travel times in minutes from 2010 to 2024.

Chart Description: Average Travel Time to Work

Line graph showing fluctuating travel times in minutes from 2010 to 2023. Times range from 24 to 27 minutes, with a peak in 2018.

*Source: American Community Survey*
Year	Average Time (in Minutes)
2010	25.1
2012	25.8
2014	26.5
2016	24.7
2018	27
2020	25.7
2022	25.1
2023	24

Median Household Income

Chart Description: Median Household Income

Bar chart showing Median Household Income in Washington County from 1990 to 2023. Income rose from $44,122 in 1990 to $110,729 in 2023. Data from the U.S. Census, American Community Survey.

Median Household Income

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Year	Income
1990	$44,122
2000	$66,305
2010	$77,239
2020	$97,584
2030*	$110,729

Education and Diversity

Educational Attainment: Graduation Rates

*Source: U.S. Census, *American Community Survey*
Education level	1990	2000	2010	2020	2030*
High school graduate	90.3%	94.0%	96.0%	96.0%	96.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	26.2%	33.9%	41.4%	45.6%	51.3%

Student Diversity by School Year

Stacked percentage bar graph displaying student diversity diversity over three school years.

Chart Description: Student Diversity by School Year

Bar chart showing the percentage of white, non-Hispanic students compared to the percentage of students of color over the school year of 2014-2015, 2019-2020, and 2022-2023) sourced from the Minnesota Department of Education via the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

*Source: Minnesota Department of Education via the Annie E. Casey Foundation*
School Year	Percent of White, non-Hispanic Students	Percent of Students of Color
2014-2015	76.7%	23.3%
2019-2020	70.1%	29.9%
2022-2023	64.7%	35.3%

Countywide Diversity by Year

Stacked percentage bar graph displaying countywide diversity over three years.

Chart Description: Countywide Diversity

Bar graph displaying countywide diversity over three years. In 2010, 85.7% White, non-Hispanic and 14.3% People of Color; in 2020, 77.8% White, non-Hispanic and 22.2% People of Color; in 2030, it is estimated there will be 75.2% White, non-Hispanic and 24.8% People of Color. Source: U.S. Census, Minnesota State Demographic Center (May 2024).

*Source: U.S. Census, Minnesota State Demographic Center (May 2024)*
Year	Percent of White, non-Hispanic	Percent of People of Color
2010	85.7%	14.3%
2020	77.8%	22.2%
2030*	75.2%	24.8%

Demographics
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Governance
History
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Mission, Vision, and Values

Demographics

Population

County Population Growth

Population by Decade

Residents 65 Years and Older

Median Age

Population Growth by Cities

Households

Households

Average Household Size

Economy

People Who Live In Washington County: What County Do They Work In?

People Who Work In Washington County: What County Do They Live In?

Employment

Poverty Rate

Poverty Rate

Average Travel Time to Work

Median Household Income

Median Household Income

Education and Diversity

Educational Attainment: Graduation Rates

Student Diversity by School Year

Countywide Diversity by Year

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