King County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

King County is located in Washington with a total population of 2,262,713. It is the 1st most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in King County is 37.3 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in King County is $122,148. This is 29% higher than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 56% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $811,200. Housing costs are 56% higher than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 56.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in King County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.3% of the population. Asian residents account for 19.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (6.4% vs 3.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (19.8% vs 9.3%).

Education

55.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places King County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%. Notably, 23.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.