City · Washington
Burien, Washington
Burien, city, in King County, Washington. Burien had 51,859 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 52,066 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 51,513 (±47). GEOID 5308850.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
51,859
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 52,066 · ACS 2020-2024: 51,513 ±47
Median household income
$91,318
±$3,494 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$638,800
±$14,667 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,782
±$50 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Burien and what county is it in?
Burien is a city in King County, Washington. It covers 10.0 square miles of land, 5,186 residents per square mile in 2020.
Burien is in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Burien, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 51,859 people lived in Burien on July 1, 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, while Washington grew 3.8%. The 2020 Census counted 52,066 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 51,513 (±47).
| Measure | Burien | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 51,513 ±47 | 2,287,171 | no clear change |
| Households | 19,672 ±624 | 941,054 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.59 ±0.08 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 21,271 ±581 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
Burien's population since 2000
From 31,881 in 2000 to 51,859 in 2025: up 62.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Burien as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Burien?
The median resident of Burien is 40.4 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 15.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 45.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.2%. 26.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Burien | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 ±1.0 | 37.4 | +2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 20.6% ±1.8 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.9% ±1.4 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 51.5% ±1.7 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.2% ±2.6 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 45.7% ±2.6 pts | 52.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.6% ±2.1 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 15.3% ±2.0 pts | 20.5% | +2.4 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±0.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.1% ±1.8 pts | 25.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 34.0% ±2.2 pts | 31.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±0.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3% ±1.4 pts | 10.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.4% ±1.5 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.0% ±1.7 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.2% ±2.1 pts | 56.7% | +5.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.5% ±1.4 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.6% ±2.3 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Burien earn?
Half of Burien's 19,672 households earn less than $91,318 a year (±$3,494), against $124,746 in King County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $82,951 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,367 after inflation. 12.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Burien | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,318 ±$3,494 | $124,746 | +$8,367 |
| Mean household income | $124,873 ±$7,384 | $176,799 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,093 ±$3,199 | $74,100 | +$5,586 |
| People below the poverty line | 12.9% ±2.3 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.7% ±6.1 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.8% ±2.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.8% ±1.3 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.9% ±1.5 pts | 95.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Burien?
Owners occupy 56.6% of Burien's occupied homes and renters 43.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $638,800 by its owner (±$14,667). The median renter pays $1,782 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Burien | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $638,800 ±$14,667 | $859,900 | +$170,767 |
| Median gross rent | $1,782 ±$50 | $2,092 | +$221 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±4.9 pts | 37.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,780 ±$83 | $3,273 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.6% ±3.1 pts | 55.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.4% ±3.1 pts | 44.6% | – |
| Housing units | 21,271 ±581 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8% ±2.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.4% ±2.8 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.0% ±1.3 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.9% ±1.9 pts | 11.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Burien building?
Builders took permits for 179 new housing units in Burien in 2025 (14 in single-family houses), 3.5 per 1,000 residents against 4.4 across Washington.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Burien work and get to work?
61.2% of Burien's workers drive alone and 18.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.
| Measure | Burien | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.7% ±2.0 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 61.2% ±2.8 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.4% ±2.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 5.6% ±1.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.6% ±2.3 pts | 29.2% | +13.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.7 min ±1.1 | 27.6 min | −1.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Burien?
12 census tracts lie mostly in Burien, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $72,386 (Tract 271) to $163,182 (Tract 278).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 274King County | 5,314 | $94,617 |
| Tract 268.02King County | 6,279 | $85,284 |
| Tract 275King County | 5,001 | $78,926 |
| Tract 276King County | 4,243 | $93,649 |
| Tract 279.01King County | 4,257 | $140,000 |
| Tract 271King County | 4,334 | $72,386 |
| Tract 267King County | 6,265 | $101,836 |
| Tract 279.02King County | 3,250 | $73,393 |
| Tract 285King County | 4,309 | $98,478 |
| Tract 278King County | 3,384 | $163,182 |
| Tract 280King County | 3,538 | $85,482 |
| Tract 270King County | 3,293 | $113,611 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Burien) · Census block assignment files
How does Burien compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Burien is the 793rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 26th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Burien ranks 204th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 26th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 169th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th | 394 |
| Median household income | 204th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 153rd | 393 |
| Median home value | 117th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 145th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 96th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 164th | 382 |
| Median age | 178th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 326th | 388 |
| Work from home | 127th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 204th | 394 |
Burien's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Burien with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Burien?
5 of the 57 figures for Burien on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Burien are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Burien.