$199,375Average Value$127Average Price per Sq Ft27Homes For Sale
Growth in Washington is driven by schools and lower home prices
Agriculture, Midwestern charm and city conveniences converge in Washington, a city of about 7,000 people and the seat of Washington County. The city hums with activity thanks to a thriving Main Street and a regular slate of events, but strong agricultural roots give it a laid-back atmosphere. “Washington is a growing town about 40 minutes south of Iowa City with their own school system,” says Matthew Lepic, a broker associate with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors with more than 20 years of real estate experience. “That growth is driven by people leaving the big cities like Cedar Rapids and Iowa City for the school system and the lower cost of living.”
Washington is home to around 7,500 residents.
Businesses around Central Park often take part in festivals and annual events in downtown Washington.
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New builds and 20th century homes
Washington has a blend of existing homes built throughout the 1900s in the center of town and new construction in subdivisions toward the outskirts. Homes from the early 1900s typically feature styles like National, bungalow, American Foursquare, Victorian and Colonial Revival, while ranch-style and split-level homes were more popular after the 1950s. Older homes tend to have driveways and detached garages, although some homeowners have added attached garages. New builds in housing additions like Country Club View sport Craftsman-inspired details and single-level designs. The median sale price is about $200,000, which is lower than Iowa City’s median of roughly $300,000.
Several ornate historical homes can be found on the quiet residential streets just outside downtown Washington.
Sprawling ranches are found on the edges of Washington and can feature up to five bedrooms.
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Washington public schools offer dual credit, plus a private elementary
“The school system is smaller, and people like that,” Lepic says. “They have great sporting facilities too.” Washington Community School District serves about 1,800 students and receives a C rating from Niche. The school system has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, according to Niche. Two elementary schools feed into one middle school and one high school. High schoolers can choose from more than 30 dual credit courses offered through Kirkwood Community College. Washington is also home to St. James Catholic Elementary School, a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade facility that is unrated by Niche.
Lincoln Elementary School is one of four Washington Community Schools in town.
The Washington High School and Middle School campus was built in 2012.
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Main Street has American, Italian and Mexican restaurants
Downtown Washington surrounds Central Park, a hub for community events like the farmers market and the Thursday Night Live concert series in the summer and fall. “Their downtown area is really cool with older buildings and some good shopping with good, local places to eat,” Lepic says. Café Dodici has Italian fare, while the adjoining Dodici’s Shop has wine, chocolates, and gourmet wraps and sandwiches. Frontier Family Restaurant has breakfast skillets and comfort food, while Unc and Neph’s serves up burgers, sandwiches and brews. There are several Mexican restaurants in town like La Morenita Tienda y Taqueria, a Hispanic grocery store and eatery. Residents grab groceries at Fareway, Hy-Vee and Walmart.
The thriving Washington downtown area attracts businesses and new residents.
Locals gather at Frontier Family Restaurant for a delicious meal with friends and family.
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Outdoor fun at Wellness Park and performances at indoor venues
Several parks and playgrounds in town provide room to roam and play, but the newest addition is Wellness Park, an 80-acre expanse with a baseball and softball complex near the new YMCA of Washington County and aquatic center. The park features a playground, soccer fields, a sand volleyball court and access to the 14-mile Kewash Nature Trail, and plans call for a fishing pond, more trails and a four-season shelter. A few miles outside town, Clemmons Creek Wildlife and Recreation has nearly 300 acres of wildlife and wetlands for hiking, archery, hunting and fishing. Golfers tee off at Washington Golf and Country Club, a semi-private 9-hole course open to the public. Locals can catch a live performance at Washington Community Theater or the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center. State Theater has been screening movies since 1897 and was certified as the world’s oldest continually operating cinema theater by Guinness World Records in 2016.
Washington's Wellness Park offers a modern baseball and softball complex.
The Kewash Nature Trail traverses through wooded areas, farm fields, and natural prairies.
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Craft shows and a legendary Christmas play
More than 100 vendors showcase their wares at the spring and fall craft shows in Washington. The community has local traditions like Pink Friday, the local precursor to Black Friday, held the weekend before Thanksgiving. The holiday season starts on November 30 with a tree lighting ceremony, a lighted parade, a candlelight tour of homes and breakfast with Santa. Marion Avenue Baptist Church has held a theatrical performance known as the Live Animal Christmas Show for 50 years. The show features scenes from the Bible brought to life through costumes, songs and, of course, animals. In addition to Marion Avenue Baptist Church, Washington has churches like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. James Catholic Church, United Methodist Church and New Hope Mennonite Church.
Iowa City is 40 minutes away
State Route 92 runs through the center of town and intersects with Route 1 on the west side of town. Washington County Hospital offers medical care in town and is a major employer. Cedar Rapids has domestic flights about 60 miles away, but Des Moines International Airport has more options about 100 miles away. Iowa City is within a 30-mile drive. While the area is mostly car-dependent, bikers can hop on the Kewash Nature Trail and pedal 14 miles to Keota. An active rail line in town can cause occasional delays.
Highways 1 and 92 intersect in Washington, giving easy access to surrounding towns, including Iowa City.
Washington County Hospital & Clinics has an emergency department as well as numerous other specialty departments.
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Joshua Kassabian
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rob McCain,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Washington, IA sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Washington, IA over the last 12 months is $195,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Timeless Character & Generous Living Space! Lovingly owned and enjoyed by three generations, this home is filled with warmth, character, and room to grow. The spacious kitchen features a cozy breakfast nook overlooking the backyard, along with abundant pantry cabinetry for all your small appliances and storage needs. Entertain with ease in the formal dining room with beautiful built-ins, open to
Charming Corner-Lot Home Close to Downtown This inviting, well-cared-for home sits on a desirable corner lot within walking distance to downtown Washington and nearby shopping. The open kitchen, dining, and living areas offer a bright, comfortable layout ideal for both everyday living and entertaining. The main level features two bedrooms and a full bath. The mostly finished lower level adds
This charming home is located on a corner lot close to schools, shopping and downtown. Completely remodeled in 2023 offering an open floor plan, saturated in natural sunlight with all the windows. This one level home is perfect for first-time home buyers or someone who is looking for an affordable one level, low maintenance home. The yard has ample space for gardening and entertaining. A spacious
2-story home featuring 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, with one bedroom and the bathroom located on the main level. This property is ready for your personal touch—an excellent opportunity for an investor, handyman, or buyer looking to build equity with some TLC. Features include a 24x30 2-car detached garage, a nice yard, and a convenient location close to town amenities.
Great investment property with long term renters located close to downtown Washington. Gross yearly income $23,160.00. Owner pays water, approximately $3024.00 yearly. Unit 1 - 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, large three seasons porch electric forced air heat $900.00 a month Unit 2 - 1 bedroom, 1 bath electric forced air heat $530 a month Unit 3 - 1 bedroom, 1 bath electric base board heat $500 a month 24
Updated 2-story home with excellent garage and shop space! This move-in ready property features updated interior finishes, new floor coverings, fresh paint, updated walls, and an inviting layout with spacious living areas. The main level offers a large living room, kitchen with abundant cabinet space, dining area, full bathroom, and a main-level bedroom. Upstairs includes an additional bedroom
Situated on a nice sized lot, located close to schools, shopping and Washington's Historic Downtown Square. This 4 bedroom home, features a new kitchen, new bathroom, spacious living area and bedrooms. The freshly painted interior and newer flooring make this home move-in ready. Other features include: *75 x 132 Lot *30 x 24 car garage *New wiring in 2025 *New Furnace and Central Air in 2025* New
This split-foyer new construction single-family home features 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and almost 2400 finished square feet. The main level includes LVP flooring in the kitchen, dining, and living room. The home is adorned with white-painted cabinets, trim, and doors, as well as black matte-finished hardware and lighting. There's a deck off the main level dining area and a patio off the family
Located 9 miles east of Washington, Iowa is an adorable 2332 square foot two story home. This house has five rooms along with a bath and a half. The full bath located on the second floor. The kitchen, dining room, and living room is open with new floors and bright windows. The house has a partial basement. Furnace, water heater, and water softener are located in the basement. The garage is 576
New construction duplex in Washington's newest subdivision, Country Club View. Enjoy the open concept with generous sized kitchen/dining room and Livingroom. Large primary suite with walk in closet. Hard surface flooring in kitchen, dining area and baths. All kitchen/bath tops are solid surface. Multiple 110volt/HDMI dual outlets throughout the space. Furnace room in garage saving living space.
Relaxing Rural Retreat... On an 1.11 Acre all your own. Massive stone fireplace, spacious kitchen and dining with 2 ovens, and loaded with charm. Big windows bring the outdoors in. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, close to city conveniences, schools, and not to mention peace & quiet. 2 Car heated garage, 30 Amp RV Hookup, Fenced-in yard, 2 new maple trees planted, screened-in deck, full finished basement,
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