City · Washington
Lake Stevens, Washington
Lake Stevens, city, in Snohomish County, Washington. Lake Stevens had 42,091 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.2% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 38,913; the 2020 Census counted 35,630 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 40,253 (±59). GEOID 5337900.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
42,091
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 35,630 · ACS 2020-2024: 40,253 ±59
Median household income
$122,336
±$5,908 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$635,600
±$16,026 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$2,224
±$122 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Lake Stevens and what county is it in?
Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington. It covers 10.2 square miles of land, 3,507 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 42,091 people lived in Lake Stevens on July 1, 2025, up 8.2% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Lake Stevens, 38,913, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 35,630: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 40,253 (±59).
| Measure | Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 40,253 ±59 | 844,430 | +7,766 |
| Households | 13,773 ±391 | 316,212 | +2,587 |
| Average household size | 2.92 ±0.08 | 2.64 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 14,272 ±437 | 331,530 | +2,845 |
Lake Stevens's population since 2000
From 6,361 in 2000 to 42,091 in 2025: up 561.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens?
The median resident of Lake Stevens is 34.7 years old; 29.1% are under 18 and 8.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.3%. 13.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 ±0.8 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.1% ±1.6 pts | 22.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 8.6% ±0.8 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±1.4 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.3% ±2.1 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.6% ±3.0 pts | 62.0% | −9.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±0.9 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 10.1% ±1.6 pts | 13.6% | +6.3 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±1.7 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.1% ±1.4 pts | 19.3% | +5.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.5% ±1.8 pts | 24.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±1.2 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 9.4% ±1.5 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.8% ±1.0 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.0% ±1.3 pts | 93.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.0% ±2.5 pts | 38.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.1% ±1.4 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.1% ±2.6 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Lake Stevens earn?
Half of Lake Stevens's 13,773 households earn less than $122,336 a year (±$5,908), against $111,246 in Snohomish County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $114,923 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,413 after inflation. 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $122,336 ±$5,908 | $111,246 | +$7,413 |
| Mean household income | $141,375 ±$5,332 | $142,821 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,103 ±$1,939 | $54,628 | +$4,546 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.2% ±1.9 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.2% ±5.2 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.8% ±1.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.4% ±0.9 pts | 97.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.9% ±1.6 pts | 94.4% | – |
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 Lake Stevens?
Owners occupy 75.6% of Lake Stevens's occupied homes and renters 24.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $635,600 by its owner (±$16,026). The median renter pays $2,224 a month including utilities, and 44.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $635,600 ±$16,026 | $696,000 | +$196,365 |
| Median gross rent | $2,224 ±$122 | $1,949 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.5% ±7.5 pts | 41.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,700 ±$82 | $2,748 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.6% ±2.7 pts | 68.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.4% ±2.7 pts | 31.8% | – |
| Housing units | 14,272 ±437 | 331,530 | +2,845 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.6% ±2.2 pts | 63.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% ±0.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 7.5% ±1.2 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.9% ±1.8 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.1% ±1.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
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 Lake Stevens building?
Builders took permits for 274 new housing units in Lake Stevens in 2025 (82 in single-family houses), 6.5 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 Lake Stevens work and get to work?
66.2% of Lake Stevens's workers drive alone and 21.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 35.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.
| Measure | Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.3% ±1.9 pts | 67.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% ±1.3 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.2% ±2.8 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5% ±2.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.2% ±0.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.3% ±2.2 pts | 20.0% | +16.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 35.2 min ±2.0 | 30.8 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 Lake Stevens?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Lake Stevens, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $101,895 (Tract 526.04) to $139,395 (Tract 526.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 526.04Snohomish County | 5,801 | $101,895 |
| Tract 527.06Snohomish County | 6,485 | $130,052 |
| Tract 525.06Snohomish County | 5,407 | $106,187 |
| Tract 526.05Snohomish County | 5,403 | $114,959 |
| Tract 525.05Snohomish County | 5,238 | $126,266 |
| Tract 526.03Snohomish County | 2,975 | $139,395 |
| Tract 526.06Snohomish County | 5,631 | $134,766 |
| Tract 527.07Snohomish County | 5,197 | $123,792 |
| Tract 526.07Snohomish County | 7,169 | $155,598 |
| Tract 525.04Snohomish County | 3,085 | $119,417 |
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 Lake Stevens) · Census block assignment files
How does Lake Stevens compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lake Stevens is the 987th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 31st-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Lake Stevens ranks 93rd 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 | 31st | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 48th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 55th | 394 |
| Median household income | 93rd | 387 |
| Per capita income | 152nd | 393 |
| Median home value | 119th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 59th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 236th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 142nd | 382 |
| Median age | 320th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 177th | 388 |
| Work from home | 107th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 53rd | 394 |
Lake Stevens's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens?
4 of the 57 figures for Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens.