City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Lakewood, WA

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

63,034
Residents
$70,524
Median income
$420,500
Median home
$1,960
Median rent (state)

Lakewood - the verdict

Nationally, Lakewood sits in the 50th percentile for household income and the 6th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

50th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
81st
percentile, median rent
6th
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: Lakewood, WA

Lakewood is a small city in Washington, home to 63,034 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $70,524 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.2%. Home values in Lakewood run a median of $420,500, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. Educational attainment runs 22.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 451 residential building permits were authorized in Lakewood (Building Boom), up 1000% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lakewood's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 4270.0 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Washington at 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,960 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Washington run around $188, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Lakewood report an average commute of 26.8 minutes, with 74.9% driving alone and 7.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

63,034 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$70,524 /yr

Poverty 8.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Lakewood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 81% pricier than other cities
Safety 6% 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, Lakewood ranks #140 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 Lakewood'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.

50thIncome percentile
6thSafety percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income · 6th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lakewood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lakewood'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 25 Avg. percentile National median
Lakewood'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 Lakewood's home value compares nationally

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

$420,500 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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. Lakewood $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 - Lakewood, WA Lakewood, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA median $70,524/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%
Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.5%

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

Population
63,034
Median Income
$70,524
Median Home Value
$420,500
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Labor force participation
54.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4270.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
648.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3621.9
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
23
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
62,000 residents62,500 residents63,000 residents63,500 residents64,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 63,622 residents 62,755 residents ▼ -1.4%
Lakewood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
451
housing units authorized
Single-Family
48
detached homes
Multifamily
403
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 41
2020 162
2021 83
2022 157
2023 80
2024 451

Permit volume increased 1000% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
26.8 minutes
Drive Alone
74.9%
Carpool
12.1%
Public Transit
3.1%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
7.1%
Other
1.5%

Based on 29,079 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 Lakewood sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,960/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Richland
61,912 people
Sammamish
66,375 people
Shoreline
59,280 people
South Hill
68,161 people
Lacey
57,088 people
Olympia
55,583 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lakewood's 63,034 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Moore, OK
63,045 people
Maricopa, AZ
62,986 people
Hamilton, OH
63,124 people
Bossier City, LA
62,832 people
Brookline, MA
62,822 people
Eden Prairie, MN
63,249 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lakewood's $70,524 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Belton, MO
$70,525 median income
Valencia CDP (Valencia County), NM
$70,521 median income
Hammondsport, NY
$70,521 median income
Balch Springs, TX
$70,528 median income
Dover, NJ
$70,519 median income
Belle Plaine, IA
$70,517 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 48.8% 13.9% 7.3% 8.6% 16.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.2% White 48.8% Black or African American 13.9% Asian 7.3% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 3.8% Some other race 8.6% Two or more races 16.9% 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 Lakewood 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
Lakewood (this city) 63,034 $70,524
Richland 61,912 $92,550
Sammamish 66,375 $227,273
Shoreline 59,280 $113,336
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lakewood, WA?

What is the population of Lakewood, WA? +

63,034 people live in Lakewood, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Lakewood, the typical household earns $70,524 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lakewood? +

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

Lakewood has a total crime rate of 4270.0 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 Lakewood, WA? +

The median home value in Lakewood is $420,500, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.