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City · 9,726 residents · Beaufort County, North Carolina

Washington , North Carolina

In Washington, a typical home is worth $206,800 and typical rent is $856 a month. Compared with all of Beaufort County, typical household income is 31% lower, the typical home value is 7% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 23 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $206,800

    7% above the county

    28% below North Carolina

    • Washington
    • Beaufort
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $856a month

    About the same as the county

    30% below North Carolina

    • Washington
    • Beaufort
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $40,186a year

    31% below the county

    44% below North Carolina

    • Washington
    • Beaufort
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    46%

    23 points below the county

    20 points below North Carolina

    • Washington
    • Beaufort
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$242,936
1.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,285 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Washington is in Beaufort County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Beaufort County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Washington apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 46% of households in Washington own their home, against 70% in Beaufort County.

  2. Nearby, in Williamston, the typical home value is $107,100: 48% less than in Washington ($206,800).

  3. Washington has the 9th lowest typical household income of the 165 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($40,186).

  4. Nearby, in Williamston, the typical rent is $684: 20% less than in Washington ($856).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Washington

What homes there are in Washington, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Washington (61%), but less so than in Beaufort County (68%).

Year built

Homes in Washington are older: the typical year built is 1972; in Beaufort County, 1980.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Beaufort County is high ($541,287): at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Washington are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 73% of rented homes in Washington cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Beaufort County ($1,012).

With a mortgage

$1,686 a month

Beaufort County: $1,459 a month

Without a mortgage

$487 a month

Beaufort County: $531 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Beaufort County: 47%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Washington is $1,686 a month, more than in Beaufort County ($1,459); without one, $487.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Washington rose 48% since 2015–2019, more than in Beaufort County (45%).

Much as in Beaufort County, the typical rent in Washington rose 19% since 2015–2019.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWashingtonBeaufort CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%2.2%3.4%
People per household 1.992.272.442.53
Drive alone 79%82%72%69%
Carpool 10%6%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 7%9%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Washington has 1.99 people, fewer than in Beaufort County (2.27).

Carpooling is common in Washington: 10% of workers get to work that way, against 6% in Beaufort County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Washington?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Washington, worth $206,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 51% of the typical household income in Washington, which is $40,186 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,769 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Beaufort County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Washington. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,238 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,698

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$203,054
Total interest
$292,148
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,492 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $938 a month

  • Tight

    $938 to $1,206 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,206 a month

    Your payment · 51%

Compared with the typical household income in Washington ($40,186 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,698
Principal & interest$1,376
Property tax$145
Home insurance$86
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$91

You need at least $7,238 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Washington and Beaufort County

Washington is in Beaufort County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Washington's own numbers

Typical home value
$206,800
Typical monthly rent
$856
Typical yearly household income
$40,186
Households that own their home
46%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Beaufort County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+74%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
17%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Beaufort County.

Everything about Beaufort County

Buying

Buying a home in Washington

A typical home in Washington is worth $206,800: 7% above the county and 28% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Washington ($40,186 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Washington 5.1 years
  • Beaufort 3.3 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Beaufort County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Beaufort County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Beaufort County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.3% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +74% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Washington next to Beaufort County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Washington $206,800
  • Beaufort $192,700
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Washington $856
  • Beaufort $871
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Washington $40,186
  • Beaufort $58,357
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Washington next to Beaufort County and North Carolina
Measure Washington Beaufort County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $206,800 $192,700 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $856 $871 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $40,186 $58,357 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 46% 70% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,729 $1,300 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.84% 0.67% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 51% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Beaufort County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Washington

For a typical $206,800 home in Washington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Washington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,698a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,238
    Cash to close
    $13,442
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $91

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,660a month

    Down payment
    $10,340
    Cash to close
    $16,544
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $98

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,352a month

    Down payment
    $41,360
    Cash to close
    $47,564
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,543a month

    Down payment
    $31,020
    Cash to close
    $37,224
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Washington and for Beaufort County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Washington

0.84%of the home’s value each year

$1,729 a year for the typical owner in Washington.

  • Washington 0.84%
  • Beaufort 0.67%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Beaufort County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Beaufort County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
17%
3,774
Of those, with NFIP insurance
56%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 17% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 56% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Washington

Typical rent in Washington is $856 a month: about the same as the county. In Washington, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Beaufort County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,012 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.46 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Beaufort County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $795 $15.29 $31,800
1 bedroom $800 $15.38 $32,000
2 bedrooms $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
3 bedrooms $1,320 $25.38 $52,800
4 bedrooms $1,552 $29.85 $62,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Washington

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Washington is in ZIP code 27889.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $2 less than the fair market rent for Beaufort County ($1,012).

  • 27889 $1,010$1,320

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Washington when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Washington

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Washington. These are the largest.

  • Oakcrest 407 E 3rd St, Washington 27889 383 homes, 382 low-income · Run by Washington Housing Authority · Average payment: $304 a month · Average wait: 12 months · Homes at several sites (252) 946-0061
  • Alderbrook Pointe 140 Alderbrook Cir, Washington 27889 64 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • Village Apts., the 219 Village Cir, Washington 27889 50 low-income homes · For older adults (252) 946-3822
  • Clifton Park Cowell Farm Road, Washington 27889 48 low-income homes · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2006 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Glenview Apartments 120 Holloman St, Washington 27889 40 low-income homes · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 6 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness

See all 23 buildings in Beaufort County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Washington

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Beaufort County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Washington

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Washington or Beaufort County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Washington the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Washington

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Washington, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 47 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 49 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

  • Choanoke Area Development Association of Nc, Inc.

    120 Sessoms Dr, Rich Square · 51 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (252) 539-4155

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Washington

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Washington

HUD’s record names them for Washington or Beaufort County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Washington Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (252) 946-0061

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Washington, with the typical home value.

Everything about Beaufort County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Beaufort County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Washington.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Washington

Short answers with the numbers for Washington and all of Beaufort County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Washington?

The typical home value in Washington is $206,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Beaufort County it is $192,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Washington?

Typical rent in Washington is $856 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Beaufort County is $1,012.

What is the FHA loan limit in Washington?

Washington uses the FHA limit for all of Beaufort County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Washington?

The typical homeowner in Washington pays $1,729 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in Beaufort County, the rate is 0.67%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Washington?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Beaufort County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).