King County, Washington Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for King County, Washington, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in King County, Washington. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in King County, Washington. The estimated population of King County, Washington is 2,240,876 people, with a median age of 37.1.

We can look at the total population in King County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
2,240,876
+0.71%
+5.80%
2020
2,225,064
+1.35%
-
2019
2,195,502
+1.49%
-
2018
2,163,257
+2.13%
-
2017
2,118,119
 - -

Population of King County, Washington by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
57.1%
61.4%
 -7.00%
Black/African American
6.3%
6%
 +5.00%
Native
0.4%
0.5%
 -20.00%
Hispanic
10%
9.5%
 +5.26%
Asian
18.7%
16.5%
 +13.33%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.7%
0.8%
 -12.50%
Two Or More Races
6.3%
5.2%
 +21.15%
Other
0.5%
0.2%
 +150.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of King County, Washington by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 37.1 +0.27% 36.5 +0.83% 37.8 0%
2020 37 0% 36.2 -0.28% 37.8 0%
2019 37 -0.27% 36.3 0% 37.8 0%
2018 37.1 -0.27% 36.3 -0.55% 37.8 -0.53%
2017 37.2 - 36.5 - 38 -

The median age of King County, Washington gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 129,961 -0.87% 125,499 -1.96% 128,808 123,025
10 to 19 117,717 +7.1% 112,432 +8.65% 126,277 122,470
20 to 29 161,549 +5.7% 154,045 +3.75% 170,804 159,833
30 to 39 177,494 +14.73% 168,573 +10.22% 205,099 186,459
40 to 49 154,527 +4.45% 148,069 +3.52% 161,486 153,345
50 to 59 140,949 +1.54% 140,793 -1.54% 143,120 138,640
60 to 69 103,686 +9.26% 112,269 +2.59% 113,584 115,164
70+ 72,812 +13.41% 97,744 +11.81% 83,046 109,716

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of King County, Washington is $106,326.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for King County.

  • Under 25
    $52,329.00
  • 25 to 44
    $119,400.00
  • 45 to 64
    $123,970.00
  • 65 and over
    $65,232.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in King County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in King County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of King County, Washington is currently $145,743.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

21.76% of households in King County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of King County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.52%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    12.23%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    13.34%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.21%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.72%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    12.21%
  • $200,000 or more
    21.76%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in King County is $59,843.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of King County by the total population of King County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in King County, Washington, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in King County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    23.95%
  • Bachelor's degree
    47.94%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    7.38%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    18.82%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.91%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in King County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of King County over the age of 16 is 1,836,285.

Of those people, a total of 70.20% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in King County is 66.90%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 95,989 37.50% 16.20%
20 to 24 years 131,553 76.50% 8.80%
25 to 29 years 199,084 88.00% 4.20%
30 to 34 years 207,221 87.30% 4.10%
35 to 44 years 346,600 85.70% 3.90%
45 to 54 years 296,314 85.10% 3.70%
55 to 59 years 138,014 77.70% 3.70%
60 to 64 years 126,958 63.20% 3.80%
65 to 74 years 180,428 29.50% 3.30%
75 years and over 114,124 6.30% 3.30%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in King County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,154,742 69.20% 4.30%
Black or African American 110,883 71.20% 8.30%
American Indian and Alaska Native 10,260 66.50% 10.60%
Asian 352,262 70.50% 3.40%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 12,844 75.40% 7.10%
Other 72,148 77.50% 5.30%
Two or more races 123,146 73.80% 6.50%
Hispanic or Latino 158,250 77.10% 4.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,100,040 68.90% 4.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in King County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in King County is 1,228,498, with median earnings of $61,776.00.

Women in King County, Washington earning approximately 69.20% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,228,498 $61,776.00
Male 669,608 $73,462.00
Female 558,890 $50,827.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 174,551 $108,491.00
Business and Financial 93,693 $85,372.00
Computer and Mathematical 135,371 $133,755.00
Architecture and Engineering 43,526 $105,072.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 19,458 $82,356.00
Community and Social Service 20,119 $52,428.00
Legal 18,013 $107,324.00
Educational and Library 66,754 $45,628.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 38,237 $56,671.00
Healthcare Practitioners 65,841 $80,725.00
Healthcare Support 31,278 $31,415.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 10,866 $39,086.00
Law Enforcement 3,370 $98,712.00
Food Preparation and Serving 62,107 $25,405.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 30,690 $28,536.00
Personal Care and Service 31,475 $23,093.00
Sales 103,332 $48,831.00
Office and Administrative Support 107,816 $42,732.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 2,564 $28,363.00
Construction and Extraction 41,077 $50,565.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 20,413 $56,502.00
Production 39,052 $43,443.00
Transportation and Material Moving 37,090 $42,047.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 101,710 $125,119.00 72,841 $93,053.00
Business and Financial 42,874 $94,803.00 50,819 $78,447.00
Computer and Mathematical 104,996 $141,318.00 30,375 $109,494.00
Architecture and Engineering 35,184 $107,627.00 8,342 $90,966.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 10,025 $96,050.00 9,433 $73,742.00
Community and Social Service 6,541 $53,471.00 13,578 $52,005.00
Legal 8,469 $139,813.00 9,544 $89,505.00
Educational and Library 19,591 $55,427.00 47,163 $42,092.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 18,610 $62,722.00 19,627 $49,443.00
Healthcare Practitioners 19,377 $100,794.00 46,464 $75,674.00
Healthcare Support 6,527 $33,027.00 24,751 $30,804.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 8,178 $45,129.00 2,688 $25,520.00
Law Enforcement 2,667 $101,335.00 703 $79,609.00
Food Preparation and Serving 31,879 $29,100.00 30,228 $21,387.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 18,352 $32,606.00 12,338 $22,498.00
Personal Care and Service 5,926 $26,284.00 25,549 $22,558.00
Sales 54,357 $60,474.00 48,975 $37,984.00
Office and Administrative Support 34,083 $47,817.00 73,733 $41,278.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,880 $32,204.00 684 $19,545.00
Construction and Extraction 39,455 $50,750.00 1,622 $46,596.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 19,217 $57,060.00 1,196 $38,333.00
Production 27,088 $50,738.00 11,964 $33,253.00
Transportation and Material Moving 30,348 $42,375.00 6,742 $39,194.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 902,308 households in King County, with an average household size of 2.44 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 536,432 families in King County with an average family size of 3.07 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 427,498 37,085 71,849 365,876
Average Household Size 3.16 3.22 3.22 1.38
Total Families 427,498 37,085 71,849 0
Average Household Size 3.12 2.78 2.95 0

Poverty

Of the 536,432 families in King County, 5.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in King County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 957,123 housing units in King County, Washington.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 902,308 94.27%
Vacant 54,815 5.73%

40.00% of the total 957,123 housing units in King County are rental units. This is approximately 382,809 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 510,552 are occupied by the owner - or 53.34% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in King County is $1,801.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in King County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    8,947
  • Less than $500
    17,346
  • $500 to $999
    24,945
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    80,729
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    113,687
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    76,507
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    35,214
  • $3,000 or more
    34,381

Property Value

The median value of a property in King County is $651,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in King County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    8,942
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    4,665
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    3,635
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6,310
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    27,285
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    122,114
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    235,742
  • $1,000,000 or more
    101,859

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in King County. The chart below shows the number of properties in King County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    107,029
  • 1940 to 1949
    46,807
  • 1950 to 1959
    76,702
  • 1960 to 1969
    110,983
  • 1970 to 1979
    123,162
  • 1980 to 1989
    132,536
  • 1990 to 1999
    123,284
  • 2000 to 2009
    126,637
  • 2010 to 2013
    108,193
  • 2014 or later
    1,790

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in King County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    93,917
  • 1 vehicle available
    317,714
  • 2 vehicles available
    315,333
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    175,344

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in King County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in King County that commute to work in a particular way.

29.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in King County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    15,977
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    58,996
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    93,198
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    130,833
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    144,628
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    75,153
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    164,852
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    40,132
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    59,042
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    109,621
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    73,372
  • 90 or more minutes
    21,484

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for King County, Washington in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in King County, Washington

We have data for 70 places in King County, Washington. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.