City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

University Place, WA

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

34,850
Residents
$94,952
Median income
$578,100
Median home
$1,960
Median rent (state)

University Place - the verdict

Nationally, University Place sits in the 74th percentile for household income and the 28th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

74th
percentile, household income
88th
percentile, home value
81st
percentile, median rent
28th
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: University Place, WA

University Place is a small city in Washington, home to 34,850 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. University Place households earn a median of $94,952 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.4%. Home values in University Place run a median of $578,100, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. 43.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 266 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 297% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2159.6 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not 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. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). Commute times here average 24.1 minutes, with 70.7% driving alone and 14.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 94.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

34,850 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$94,952 /yr

Poverty 6.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does University Place compare to other US cities?

Where University Place sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 74% higher than other cities
Home value 88% pricier than other cities
Median rent 81% pricier than other cities
Safety 28% 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, University Place ranks #83 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 University Place'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.

74thIncome percentile
28thSafety percentile

74th percentile nationally for median household income · 28th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

University Place's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

University Place'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 39 Avg. percentile National median
University Place'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 University Place's home value compares nationally

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

$578,100 12th percentile more affordable than 12% 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. University Place $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 - University Place, WA University Place, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not University Place, 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 University Place, WA median $94,952/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%
University Place, 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 University Place, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.8%

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

Population
34,850
Median Income
$94,952
Median Home Value
$578,100
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Labor force participation
61.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2159.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
236.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1923.1
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
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,500 residents35,000 residents35,500 residents36,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,910 residents 35,479 residents ▲ +1.6%
University Place's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
266
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
262
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 67
2020 134
2021 120
2022 334
2023 13
2024 266

Permit volume increased 297% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.1 minutes
Drive Alone
70.7%
Carpool
8.4%
Public Transit
2.5%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
14.9%
Other
2.0%

Based on 16,772 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 University Place 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

Graham
35,090 people
Mount Vernon
35,312 people
Spanaway
34,322 people
Wenatchee
35,502 people
Walla Walla
33,766 people
Des Moines
32,545 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to University Place's 34,850 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT
34,929 people
Long Beach, NY
34,741 people
Oildale, CA
34,971 people
Timberwood Park, TX
34,980 people
Merritt Island, FL
34,718 people
Pueblo West, CO
34,992 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to University Place's $94,952 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Helen, FL
$94,952 median income
Johnstown, OH
$94,955 median income
Cliffside Park, NJ
$94,960 median income
Paradise, PA
$94,934 median income
Knottsville, KY
$94,926 median income
Oxon Hill, MD
$94,989 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - University Place, 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 University Place, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 63.4% 7.2% 10.9% 13.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.6% White 63.4% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 10.9% American Indian 1.7% Native Hawaiian 0.8% Some other race 2.9% Two or more races 13.0% 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 University Place 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
University Place (this city) 34,850 $94,952
Graham 35,090 $115,501
Mount Vernon 35,312 $73,277
Spanaway 34,322 $94,028
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about University Place, WA?

What is the population of University Place, WA? +

34,850 people live in University Place, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in University Place, WA? +

University Place households earn a median of $94,952 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in University Place? +

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

University Place has a total crime rate of 2159.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 University Place, WA? +

The median home value in University Place is $578,100, 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 Editorial

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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.