City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Burien, WA

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

51,331
Residents
$90,597
Median income
$609,300
Median home
$2,031
Median rent (state)

Burien - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Burien places in the 71st percentile for household income and the 8th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

71st
percentile, household income
90th
percentile, home value
84th
percentile, median rent
8th
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: Burien, WA

51,331 people live in Burien, Washington - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Burien brings in $90,597 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Home values in Burien run a median of $609,300, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. 31.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 174 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 228% from five years earlier. Burien's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3819.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,031 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Washington run around $188, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Burien workers runs 22.6 minutes, with 61.8% driving alone and 15.8% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

51,331 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$90,597 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Burien compare to other US cities?

Here's how Burien stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 90% pricier than other cities
Median rent 84% pricier than other cities
Safety 8% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Washington, Burien ranks #131 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Burien'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.

71stIncome percentile
8thSafety percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income · 8th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Burien's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Burien'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 31 Avg. percentile National median
Burien'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 Burien's home value compares nationally

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

$609,300 10th percentile more affordable than 10% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Burien $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 - Burien, WA Burien, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Burien, 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 Burien, WA median $90,597/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%
Burien, 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 Burien, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.9%

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

Population
51,331
Median Income
$90,597
Median Home Value
$609,300
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
64.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3819.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
425.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3394.4
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
11
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
50,500 residents51,000 residents51,500 residents52,000 residents52,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 52,000 residents 51,859 residents ▼ -0.3%
Burien's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
174
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
169
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 53
2020 61
2021 163
2022 272
2023 281
2024 174

Permit volume increased 228% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.6 minutes
Drive Alone
61.8%
Carpool
13.6%
Public Transit
6.5%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
15.8%
Other
1.1%

Based on 26,702 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 Burien sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,031/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Bothell
48,610 people
Olympia
55,583 people
Lacey
57,088 people
Bremerton
44,531 people
Shoreline
59,280 people
Edmonds
42,783 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Burien's 51,331 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Aliso Viejo, CA
51,320 people
Glendora, CA
51,350 people
Summerville, SC
51,262 people
Little Elm, TX
51,426 people
Mooresville, NC
51,447 people
Collierville, TN
51,212 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Burien's $90,597 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Smithfield, UT
$90,602 median income
Cedar Hill, TX
$90,608 median income
Anaheim, CA
$90,583 median income
Aurora, SD
$90,612 median income
Samsula-Spruce Creek, FL
$90,575 median income
Hindsville, AR
$90,574 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Burien, 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 Burien, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 50.9% 7.2% 15.1% 15.2% 10.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.1% White 50.9% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 15.1% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 15.2% Two or more races 10.7% 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 Burien 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
Burien (this city) 51,331 $90,597
Bothell 48,610 $132,232
Olympia 55,583 $76,930
Lacey 57,088 $87,277
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Burien, WA?

What is the population of Burien, WA? +

Burien, WA has a population of 51,331 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Burien is $90,597 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Burien? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Burien; 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 Burien, WA safe? +

Burien has a total crime rate of 3819.7 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 Burien, WA? +

A typical home in Burien is worth $609,300, 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.