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King County, Washington Demographics 2026

King County, Washington has a population of 2,287,171, the 1st most populous county in Washington. The median household income is $124,746 and the median home value is $859,900. The poverty rate is 8.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

King County Quick Facts

Population 2,287,171
Median Household Income $124,746
Median Home Value $859,900
Poverty Rate 8.6%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 37.4 years
Homeownership Rate 55.5%
Affordability Ratio 6.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 56.7%
High School Graduation 93.8%
Cities/Places 63
Population 2,287,171 1st of 39
Median Income $124,746 27% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.6%
Unemployment 4.8%

How King County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population2,262,7132,287,171+1.1%
Median household income$122,148$124,746+2.1%
Median home value$811,200$859,900+6.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.5%
$25K-$50K 9.9%
$50K-$100K 21.5%
$100K+ 59.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.6%
$10K-$15K
2.3%
$15K-$20K
1.7%
$20K-$25K
1.9%
$25K-$30K
1.8%
$30K-$35K
1.9%
$35K-$40K
1.9%
$40K-$45K
2.2%
$45K-$50K
2.1%
$50K-$60K
4.3%
$60K-$75K
6.8%
$75K-$100K
10.4%
$100K-$125K
9.2%
$125K-$150K
8.0%
$150K-$200K
12.2%
$200K+
29.8%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
69.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.5%
Renter 44.5%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,092/mo 20.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

66out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in King County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Seattle754,195$123,8609.9%$938,600
Bellevue151,847$165,5767.2%$1,340,300
Kent135,603$92,30210.8%$587,800
Renton105,317$100,4328.1%$672,600
Federal Way99,493$86,90913.0%$552,800
Kirkland92,621$150,4146.1%$1,115,400
Auburn85,676$97,8848.9%$547,900
Redmond77,353$162,5605.6%$1,167,800
Sammamish66,463$239,6904.3%$1,407,300
Shoreline61,431$112,7518.8%$811,100
Burien51,513$91,31812.9%$638,800
Bothell49,610$140,4274.8%$925,100
Issaquah39,591$154,6695.2%$963,000
Des Moines32,823$92,48312.1%$597,000
SeaTac32,414$81,1049.3%$519,700
Maple Valley28,287$152,8854.8%$724,700
Mercer Island25,307$219,0693.8%$2,000,000+
Kenmore23,741$139,7645.7%$920,800
Union Hill-Novelty Hill23,047$185,3695.7%$1,218,500
Cottage Lake22,518$213,1063.2%$1,230,700
Tukwila21,451$78,38113.1%$489,000
Covington21,233$134,5025.0%$637,300
Fairwood (King County)17,856$122,1348.3%$733,200
Bryn Mawr-Skyway17,638$90,96913.3%$655,200
Lakeland North15,950$105,21614.4%$557,000
White Center14,886$87,18914.5%$645,200
Snoqualmie13,798$214,1070.8%$977,200
Woodinville13,438$164,3982.9%$1,100,100
Lake Forest Park13,335$159,9044.0%$953,200
Lakeland South13,100$110,7356.2%$589,300
Newcastle12,989$160,2785.9%$1,205,600
Enumclaw12,798$121,2507.5%$524,600
East Renton Highlands12,582$142,5003.1%$778,700
Lake Morton-Berrydale11,183$129,8333.7%$714,200
Vashon9,934$120,57111.1%$790,700
Milton8,894$96,54010.2%$539,700
Duvall8,526$197,36112.8%$830,100
North Bend7,953$175,1094.1%$1,048,600
Pacific7,066$115,62513.8%$489,100
Normandy Park6,659$162,4764.9%$1,014,100
Hobart6,552$160,5363.5%$950,300
Black Diamond5,961$141,3832.1%$779,100
Boulevard Park4,575$78,95428.0%$456,100
Maple Heights-Lake Desire4,113$143,1486.0%$876,200
Mirrormont4,019$181,8423.3%$973,900
Lake Holm3,555$177,3711.1%$828,600
Algona3,247$85,33212.1%$441,500
Clyde Hill3,119$250,000+2.6%$2,000,000+
Medina2,928$250,000+4.7%$2,000,000+
Shadow Lake2,465$152,55211.9%$816,300
Carnation2,366$152,7631.6%$875,000
Riverbend1,748$148,2693.3%$811,100
Fall City1,618$177,0192.2%$1,010,300
Wilderness Rim1,560$149,8703.3%$681,300
Lake Marcel-Stillwater1,549$201,8455.3%$847,500
Ames Lake1,245$250,000+1.1%$1,225,000
Yarrow Point1,198$250,000+4.5%$2,000,000+
Riverpoint831$175,5770.7%$1,121,000
Hunts Point289$250,000+10.0%$2,000,000+
Beaux Arts Village233$248,7505.1%$2,000,000+
Ravensdale198$207,3866.6%$1,400,000
Baring177$79,65911.9%$617,200
Skykomish92$62,91717.4%$408,300

Explore Washington Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

King County is located in Washington with a total population of 2,287,171. It is the 1st most populous county out of 39 in Washington. The county encompasses 63 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in King County is 37.4 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in King County is $124,746. This is 27% higher than the state median of $98,141. It is also 55% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $859,900. Housing costs are 52% higher than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 55.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in King County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.9% of the population. Asian residents account for 20.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (6.5% vs 3.9%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (20.5% vs 9.7%).

Education

56.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places King County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%. Notably, 24.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for King County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Washington and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of King County, Washington?

King County has a population of 2,287,171, making it the 1st most populous county in Washington.

What is the median income in King County?

The median household income in King County is $124,746 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.

How many cities are in King County, Washington?

King County contains 63 Census-designated places.