City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Bellevue, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bellevue - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

151,199
Residents
$161,300
Median income
$1,203,100
Median home
$2,501
Median rent (state)

Bellevue - the verdict

Bellevue ranks in the 96th percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

96th
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
92nd
percentile, median rent
11th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bellevue, WA

Washington's Bellevue is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 151,199 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Bellevue brings in $161,300 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. Typical homes in Bellevue are valued around $1,203,100, and the median resident age is 38.3 years. About 71.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 589 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 46% from five years earlier. Bellevue's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3478.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Washington at 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,501 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

151,199 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$161,300 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Bellevue compare to other US cities?

Where Bellevue sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 92% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Washington alone, Bellevue ranks #126 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Bellevue's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

96thIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bellevue's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bellevue's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Bellevue's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bellevue's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,203,100 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Bellevue $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bellevue, WA Bellevue, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bellevue, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bellevue, WA median $161,300/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bellevue, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bellevue, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 71.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
151,199
Median Income
$161,300
Median Home Value
$1,203,100
Median Age
38.3
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
64.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
71.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3478.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
138.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3339.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
33
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
148,000 residents150,000 residents152,000 residents154,000 residents156,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 151,783 residents 154,193 residents ▲ +1.6%
Bellevue's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
589
housing units authorized
Single-Family
254
detached homes
Multifamily
335
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 404
2020 333
2021 2,367
2022 452
2023 802
2024 589

Permit volume increased 46% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
47.0%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
5.9%
Walk
4.8%
Work from Home
32.8%
Other
2.2%

Based on 79,331 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bellevue sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,501/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Kent
135,015 people
Everett
111,083 people
Vancouver
192,696 people
Spokane Valley
105,460 people
Renton
105,279 people
Federal Way
99,232 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bellevue's 151,199 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Charleston, SC
152,014 people
Roseville, CA
152,438 people
Escondido, CA
149,913 people
Jackson, MS
149,827 people
Joliet, IL
149,785 people
Surprise, AZ
149,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bellevue's $161,300 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Eastvale, CA
$161,322 median income
Atlantic Beach, NY
$161,344 median income
Medicine Lake, MN
$161,250 median income
Taylor Lake, TX
$161,191 median income
Bell Acres, PA
$161,184 median income
Greenlawn, NY
$161,442 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bellevue, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bellevue, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 45.0% 41.0% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.5% White 45.0% Black or African American 2.2% Asian 41.0% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 8.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bellevue compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bellevue (this city) 151,199 $161,300
Kent 135,015 $90,416
Everett 111,083 $81,502
Vancouver 192,696 $78,156
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bellevue, WA?

What is the population of Bellevue, WA? +

Bellevue, WA counts 151,199 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bellevue, WA? +

In Bellevue, the typical household earns $161,300 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bellevue? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bellevue; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

Is Bellevue, WA safe? +

Bellevue has a total crime rate of 3478.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bellevue, WA? +

A typical home in Bellevue is worth $1,203,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.