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Buying a home in Washington County, Arkansas

The typical owner-occupied home in Washington County is worth about $298,400, 59% above the Arkansas median of $188,000 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,564 a year in property taxes, about 0.52% of their home's value, lower than the Arkansas rate of 0.55%. The median household earns $70,639 a year, so the median home costs 4.2 times the median income (3.1 times for Arkansas). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Washington County at a glance

Washington County Arkansas U.S.
Median home value $298,400 $188,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,564 $1,040 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.52% 0.55% 0.94%
Median household income $70,639 $60,773 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 56% 66% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 53% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,601 $1,345 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.9% 18.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,071 $947 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.4% 27.6% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1995 1987 1980
Vacant homes 7.8% 13.5% 10.1%
Population 256,765 3,049,391 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Washington County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Washington County home of $298,400 with 20% down costs about $1,860 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,357, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $79,694 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Washington County household income of $70,639; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $264,000.

The median rent here is $1,071 a month, so owning the median home costs about $789 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$59,680
Loan amount$238,720
Principal and interest$1,606
Property taxes (0.52% a year)$129
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
PMI$0
Total per month$1,860

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,444
Loan amount$292,995
Principal and interest$1,971
Property taxes (0.52% a year)$129
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
FHA mortgage insurance$132
Total per month$2,357

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Questions about home buying in Washington County

What is the median home value in Washington County?

About $298,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Washington County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,564 a year, which is about 0.52% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Washington County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,860 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $79,694 a year.

More about Washington County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data