The states' laws differ, and the minimum age of consent in the United States is 16, and the. Washington: The age of consent in Washington is 16, with a close-in-age exception of 2 if victim is less than 12, 3 if victim is less than 14 and 4 if victim is less than 16. West Virginia: The age of consent in West Virginia is 16, with the close-in-age exception of 4.