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Washington County

IN · Pop. 28,167 · Suburban County

89/100Homestead Score

Washington County is a suburban county in Indiana, spanning 514 square miles with 28,167 residents at a density of 54.8 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, hay. A median home price of $162,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.65% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 176-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.4°F and average winter lows of 25.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.6 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Ascension St Vincent Salem is 0.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.65%
Growing Season: 176 days
Broadband: 96.4%
Density: 54.8/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.65% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $162,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Ascension St Vincent Salem, with an emergency room, is just 0.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.

At a glance

Washington County, IN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score
89/100
Median home price
$162k
Property tax
0.65%
Growing season
176 days (zone 6b)
Annual rainfall
45.6"
Broadband
96.4%
Nearest hospital
Ascension St Vincent Salem, 0.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.65%
Median Household Income$61,358
Poverty Rate13.5%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$162K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6b
Growing Season176 days
Annual Rainfall45.6 inches
Avg Summer High85.4°F
Avg Winter Low25.3°F
Top CropsSoybeans, Corn, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire2/10
Tornado8/10
Flood5/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAscension St Vincent Salem (0.9 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage96.4%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.6%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Washington County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Washington County?
Washington County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 176-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.4°F, and average winter lows of 25.3°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $162,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.65%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Ascension St Vincent Salem is 0.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Washington County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.