The Town FilesWashington, New York
Town in Dutchess County · population 4,522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $532,300
- Household income
- $102,303
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 56.8
Washington is a town of 4,522 people in Dutchess County, New York. The median home is worth $532,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of New York towns, hipper than 95% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 81% of New York towns.
How Washington ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washington is worth $532,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $102,303, which is more affordable than 10% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,176 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $532,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,176 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $102,303 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.4% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.8°F. About 45.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on November 12, 2021 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 12, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 23, 2024.
Severe weather in Dutchess County since 1996
Dutchess County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dutchess County
Dutchess County had 112,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,950 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Washington
- Union Vale, NY6.5 mi · 4,558 people · home $490,900
- Amenia, NY6.7 mi · 3,769 people · home $309,500
- Pleasant Valley, NY6.7 mi · 9,799 people · home $374,500
- Stanford, NY7.4 mi · 3,682 people · home $424,200
- Clinton, NY8.9 mi · 4,037 people · home $447,500
- Dover, NY9.6 mi · 8,415 people · home $330,000
- LaGrange, NY9.6 mi · 15,975 people · home $408,600
- Hyde Park, NY11.3 mi · 21,021 people · home $331,200
Washington questions
Is Washington, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 99% of New York towns and quieter than 70%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.8).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $532,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,303, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,176 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 55.9 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on November 12, 2021. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)