City · Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle, city, in King County, Washington. Seattle had 784,777 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 737,015 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 754,195 (±72). GEOID 5363000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
784,777
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 737,015 · ACS 2020-2024: 754,195 ±72
Median household income
$123,860
±$2,244 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$938,600
±$8,494 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$2,030
±$22 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Seattle and what county is it in?
Seattle is a city in King County, Washington. It covers 84.0 square miles of land, 8,774 residents per square mile in 2020.
Seattle 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 Seattle, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 784,777 people lived in Seattle on July 1, 2025, up 6.5% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 737,015 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 754,195 (±72).
| Measure | Seattle | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 754,195 ±72 | 2,287,171 | +29,890 |
| Households | 363,466 ±2,041 | 941,054 | +31,630 |
| Average household size | 2.00 ±0.01 | 2.39 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 393,918 ±2,085 | 1,003,284 | +39,443 |
Seattle's population since 2000
From 563,374 in 2000 to 784,777 in 2025: up 39.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Seattle 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 Seattle?
The median resident of Seattle is 35.6 years old; 13.8% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.8%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 17.5%. 20.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Seattle | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 ±0.2 | 37.4 | +0.3 |
| Under 18 years | 13.8% ±0.3 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.0% ±0.2 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 50.9% ±0.3 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.5% ±0.4 pts | 11.0% | +1.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.8% ±0.6 pts | 52.9% | −5.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.4% ±0.4 pts | 6.4% | −0.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 17.5% ±0.5 pts | 20.5% | +2.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.7% ±0.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.2% ±0.4 pts | 25.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 23.7% ±0.5 pts | 31.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3% ±0.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 10.3% ±0.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.2% ±0.3 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.0% ±0.2 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 68.4% ±0.6 pts | 56.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 30.6% ±0.5 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 78.1% ±0.5 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.6% ±0.3 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 Seattle earn?
Half of Seattle's 363,466 households earn less than $123,860 a year (±$2,244), against $124,746 in King County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $113,548 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,312 after inflation. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Seattle | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $123,860 ±$2,244 | $124,746 | +$10,312 |
| Mean household income | $175,209 ±$2,390 | $176,799 | – |
| Per capita income | $86,095 ±$1,158 | $74,100 | +$12,456 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.9% ±0.4 pts | 8.6% | −1.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.3% ±1.2 pts | 9.7% | −1.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.4% ±0.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.2% ±0.2 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.5% ±0.3 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 Seattle?
Owners occupy 43.7% of Seattle's occupied homes and renters 56.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $938,600 by its owner (±$8,494). The median renter pays $2,030 a month including utilities, and 35.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Seattle | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $938,600 ±$8,494 | $859,900 | +$122,527 |
| Median gross rent | $2,030 ±$22 | $2,092 | +$44 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.0% ±0.8 pts | 37.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,505 ±$48 | $3,273 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 43.7% ±0.6 pts | 55.4% | −2.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 56.3% ±0.6 pts | 44.6% | – |
| Housing units | 393,918 ±2,085 | 1,003,284 | +39,443 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.1% ±0.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 36.8% ±0.5 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4% ±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 18.6% ±0.5 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.8% ±0.5 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 19.0% ±0.5 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 Seattle building?
Builders took permits for 4,366 new housing units in Seattle in 2025 (468 in single-family houses), 5.6 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 Seattle work and get to work?
36.7% of Seattle's workers drive alone and 34.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Seattle | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.2% ±0.4 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±0.3 pts | 4.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 36.7% ±0.7 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.7% ±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 11.9% ±0.5 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Walked | 8.1% ±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 34.8% ±0.7 pts | 29.2% | +27.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.0 min ±0.3 | 27.6 min | −1.9 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 Seattle?
178 census tracts lie mostly in Seattle, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $17,500 (Tract 53.04) to $250,000 or more (Tract 62).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 86King County | 7,188 | $75,313 |
| Tract 95King County | 7,105 | $143,676 |
| Tract 56King County | 6,992 | $240,137 |
| Tract 57King County | 6,834 | $185,945 |
| Tract 31King County | 6,742 | $191,625 |
| Tract 94King County | 6,702 | $95,038 |
| Tract 30King County | 6,590 | $182,500 |
| Tract 89King County | 6,545 | $102,818 |
| Tract 99King County | 6,421 | $127,557 |
| Tract 97.01King County | 6,387 | $119,384 |
| Tract 22King County | 6,381 | $196,167 |
| Tract 61King County | 6,360 | $133,307 |
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 Seattle) · Census block assignment files
How does Seattle compare with other places in Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Seattle is the 18th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the most populous of 281 in Washington.
Seattle ranks 89th 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 | 1st | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 65th | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd | 394 |
| Median household income | 89th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 20th | 393 |
| Median home value | 28th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 85th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 143rd | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15th | 382 |
| Median age | 298th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 379th | 388 |
| Work from home | 20th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 214th | 394 |
Seattle's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Seattle 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 Seattle?
1 of the 57 figures for Seattle on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is 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 Seattle 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 Seattle.