Census-designated place · Washington
Fort Lewis, Washington
Fort Lewis, census-designated place, in Pierce County, Washington. Fort Lewis had 15,167 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,264). GEOID 5324915.
Residents, 2020-2024
15,167
±1,264 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 14,052
Median household income
$58,796
±$4,348 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
not published
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$2,282
±$21 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Fort Lewis and what county is it in?
Fort Lewis is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Pierce County, Washington. It covers 10.3 square miles of land, 1,366 residents per square mile in 2020.
Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Fort Lewis's population at 15,167 (±1,264). The 2020 Census counted 14,052 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Fort Lewis is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Fort Lewis | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,167 ±1,264 | 930,319 | +2,113 |
| Households | 3,254 ±321 | 351,330 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.21 ±0.21 | 2.59 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,733 ±337 | 369,709 | +357 |
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 Fort Lewis?
The median resident of Fort Lewis is 22.9 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 41.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.5%. 11.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Fort Lewis | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.9 ±0.5 | 37.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.6% ±2.8 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 63.7% ±2.7 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.5% ±4.9 pts | 12.8% | +6.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 41.6% ±5.4 pts | 61.4% | −8.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 16.6% ±4.6 pts | 7.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±1.5 pts | 6.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±2.0 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±2.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.0% ±2.7 pts | 10.9% | +5.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 26.4% ±4.1 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 21.4% ±5.1 pts | 10.9% | – |
| With a disability | 4.7% ±1.8 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 5.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.3% ±2.2 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.4% ±5.4 pts | 30.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.7% ±2.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 67.8% ±5.1 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 18.1% ±4.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
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 Fort Lewis earn?
Half of Fort Lewis's 3,254 households earn less than $58,796 a year (±$4,348), against $99,564 in Pierce County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $51,882 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,914 after inflation. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Fort Lewis | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,796 ±$4,348 | $99,564 | +$6,914 |
| Mean household income | $64,559 ±$5,100 | $124,488 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,633 ±$1,718 | $47,648 | +$3,290 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2% ±4.9 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.1% ±6.5 pts | 10.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.5% ±1.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±2.1 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.2% ±1.6 pts | 94.6% | – |
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 Fort Lewis?
The median renter pays $2,282 a month including utilities, and 72.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Fort Lewis | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,282 ±$21 | $1,806 | +$192 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 72.0% ±7.0 pts | 42.6% | no clear change |
| Owner-occupied homes | 1.0% ±1.2 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 99.0% ±1.2 pts | 35.3% | – |
| Housing units | 3,733 ±337 | 369,709 | +357 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±58.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.1% ±4.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 12.8% ±4.5 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.5% ±2.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.8% ±4.4 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.2% ±3.2 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.1% ±3.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 do people in Fort Lewis work and get to work?
61.1% of Fort Lewis's workers drive alone and 3.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 11.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Fort Lewis | Pierce County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 82.9% ±3.3 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±2.9 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 61.1% ±4.4 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.2% ±3.2 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Walked | 19.7% ±3.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.4% ±1.6 pts | 13.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 11.4 min ±0.9 | 31.3 min | no clear change |
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 Fort Lewis?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Fort Lewis, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $55,165 (Tract 729.08) to $63,008 (Tract 729.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 729.08Pierce County | 8,031 | $55,165 |
| Tract 729.07Pierce County | 5,119 | $63,008 |
| Tract 729.09Pierce County | 2,246 | not published |
| Tract 729.03Pierce County | 7,683 | $70,114 |
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 Fort Lewis) · Census block assignment files
How does Fort Lewis compare with other places in Washington?
Fort Lewis ranks 348th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 92nd | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 205th | 394 |
| Median household income | 348th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 373rd | 393 |
| Median gross rent | 52nd | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 89th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 258th | 382 |
| Median age | 388th | 394 |
| Work from home | 307th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 387th | 394 |
Fort Lewis's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis?
11 of the 55 figures for Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis 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' school search.