The Town FilesWashington, Missouri
City in Franklin County · population 14,500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,800
- Household income
- $79,173
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.1
Washington is a city of 14,500 people in Franklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $231,800, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more vibrant than 85% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 83% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 79% of Missouri towns.
How Washington ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washington is worth $231,800, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $79,173, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $827 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $827 | $855 |
| Median household income | $79,173 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 20.2°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 24, 1956 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 26, 2004.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 39,312 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,695 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Washington
6 public schools with 2,659 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | 9-12 | 1,246 | 15.8 |
| Washington Middle | 7-8 | 523 | 11.6 |
| South Point Elementary | K-6 | 407 | 11.0 |
| Washington West Elementary | K-6 | 388 | 9.9 |
| Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 95 | 7.9 |
| Four Rivers Career Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Washington
- Union, MO8.0 mi · 12,348 people · home $205,200
- Villa Ridge, MO9.3 mi · 2,601 people · home $166,600
- Gray Summit, MO10.8 mi · 3,055 people · home $170,500
- St. Clair, MO14.2 mi · 4,791 people · home $157,700
- Pacific, MO15.2 mi · 7,414 people · home $249,300
- Wildwood, MO18.9 mi · 35,417 people · home $495,800
- Wright City, MO19.4 mi · 4,881 people · home $238,800
- Warrenton, MO19.6 mi · 8,429 people · home $204,800
Washington questions
Is Washington, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 49% of Missouri towns and quieter than 35%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $231,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,173, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $827 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 20.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 24, 1956. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)