The Town FilesWashington, North Carolina
City in Beaufort County · population 9,875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $206,800
- Household income
- $40,186
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 46.8
Washington is a city of 9,875 people in Beaufort County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $206,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 93% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Washington ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washington is worth $206,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $40,186, which is more affordable than 15% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 46.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $206,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $856 | $969 |
| Median household income | $40,186 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 25, 2014 about 3.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 28, 2007.
Severe weather in Beaufort County since 1996
Beaufort County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Beaufort County
Beaufort County had 15,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,313 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Washington
7 public schools with 3,473 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High | 9-12 | 859 | 19.1 |
| P S Jones Middle | 6-8 | 690 | 18.2 |
| Eastern Elementary | PK-1 | 492 | 14.5 |
| Washington Montessori (charter) | K-12 | 413 | 15.9 |
| John Small Elementary | 4-5 | 395 | 15.2 |
| John C Tayloe Elementary | 2-3 | 348 | 12.0 |
| Beaufort Co Early College High | 9-13 | 276 | 34.5 |
Towns near Washington
- River Road, NC5.2 mi · 4,048 people · home $232,800
- Greenville, NC18.5 mi · 87,521 people · home $233,500
- Williamston, NC19.5 mi · 5,248 people · home $107,100
- Winterville, NC20.0 mi · 10,462 people · home $245,100
- Ayden, NC21.8 mi · 4,977 people · home $182,400
- Plymouth, NC26.4 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
Washington questions
Is Washington, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 53% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 22%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $206,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,186, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 25, 2014. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)