City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Covington, WA

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

20,957
Residents
$126,730
Median income
$590,100
Median home
$2,501
Median rent (state)

Covington - the verdict

Nationally, Covington sits in the 89th percentile for household income and the 13th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

89th
percentile, household income
89th
percentile, home value
92nd
percentile, median rent
13th
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: Covington, WA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 20,957 residents in Covington, a small city within Washington. Covington households earn a median of $126,730 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.0%. Covington's housing stock carries a median value of $590,100, and the median resident age is 37.4 years. Educational attainment runs 35.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 60 residential building permits were authorized in Covington (Construction Slowdown), down 68% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Covington's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3285.2 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,501 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

20,957 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$126,730 /yr

Poverty 2.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Covington compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 89% higher than other cities
Home value 89% pricier than other cities
Median rent 92% pricier than other cities
Safety 13% 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, Covington ranks #121 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

Each percentile compares Covington against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Covington toward the top of Washington's cities

Among the 599 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Covington ranks #1 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Covington only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#92 of 565
84th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 599
87th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#144 of 565
75th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#437 of 598
27th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#171 of 599
71st percentile in Washington

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Washington only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

89thIncome percentile
13thSafety percentile

89th percentile nationally for median household income · 13th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Covington's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Covington'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
Covington'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 Covington's home value compares nationally

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

$590,100 11th percentile more affordable than 11% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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. Covington $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 - Covington, WA Covington, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Covington, 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 Covington, WA median $126,730/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%
Covington, 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 Covington, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.9%

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

Population
20,957
Median Income
$126,730
Median Home Value
$590,100
Median Age
37.4
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Labor force participation
67.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3285.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
179.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3106.1
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
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,600 residents20,800 residents21,000 residents21,200 residents21,400 residents21,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,860 residents 21,496 residents ▲ +3.0%
Covington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
60
housing units authorized
Single-Family
60
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 189
2020 118
2021 316
2022 20
2023 27
2024 60

Permit volume decreased 68% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.2%
Carpool
7.9%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
16.1%
Other
0.9%

Based on 10,812 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 Covington 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

Bothell West
21,014 people
Silverdale
21,046 people
Mill Creek
20,846 people
Battle Ground
21,293 people
Mukilteo
21,312 people
Arlington
20,599 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Covington's 20,957 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fort Walton Beach, FL
20,956 people
St. Andrews, SC
20,953 people
Brushy Creek, TX
20,953 people
Princeton, TX
20,966 people
Vicksburg, MS
20,944 people
Imperial, CA
20,943 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Covington's $126,730 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pine Valley, CO
$126,726 median income
Duxbury, MA
$126,750 median income
Auburn, WY
$126,750 median income
Evans, GA
$126,767 median income
Laurel, NY
$126,776 median income
Pleasant View, UT
$126,679 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Covington, 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 Covington, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 62.2% 6.0% 13.1% 15.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.6% White 62.2% Black or African American 6.0% Asian 13.1% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 2.4% Two or more races 15.2% 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 Covington 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
Covington (this city) 20,957 $126,730
Bothell West 21,014 $144,941
Silverdale 21,046 $101,445
Mill Creek 20,846 $121,578
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Covington, WA?

What is the population of Covington, WA? +

20,957 people live in Covington, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Covington, the typical household earns $126,730 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Covington? +

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

Covington has a total crime rate of 3285.2 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 Covington, WA? +

The median home value in Covington is $590,100, 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

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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.