Census-designated place · Washington
White Center, Washington
White Center, census-designated place, in King County, Washington. White Center had 14,886 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,176). GEOID 5378225.
Residents, 2020-2024
14,886
±1,176 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 16,631
Median household income
$87,189
±$11,786 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$645,200
±$29,132 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,595
±$127 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is White Center and what county is it in?
White Center is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in King County, Washington. It covers 2.3 square miles of land, 7,310 residents per square mile in 2020.
White Center 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 White Center, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts White Center's population at 14,886 (±1,176). The 2020 Census counted 16,631 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; White Center is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | White Center | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,886 ±1,176 | 2,287,171 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,702 ±411 | 941,054 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.59 ±0.13 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,034 ±379 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
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 White Center?
The median resident of White Center is 37.6 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 38.7%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 22.0%. 26.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | White Center | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 ±2.5 | 37.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.1% ±2.6 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.0% ±2.3 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Male | 50.6% ±2.5 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.2% ±5.2 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 38.7% ±4.3 pts | 52.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.1% ±5.4 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 22.0% ±4.0 pts | 20.5% | +6.5 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.9% ±3.4 pts | 25.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 37.1% ±5.5 pts | 31.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7% ±1.1 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.4% ±2.5 pts | 10.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.3% ±2.7 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.3% ±3.1 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.9% ±3.4 pts | 56.7% | +11.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.6% ±2.3 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.5% ±3.0 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.2 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 White Center earn?
Half of White Center's 5,702 households earn less than $87,189 a year (±$11,786), against $124,746 in King County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 the median was $72,247 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,942 after inflation. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | White Center | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,189 ±$11,786 | $124,746 | +$14,942 |
| Mean household income | $121,189 ±$9,431 | $176,799 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,346 ±$3,420 | $74,100 | +$8,501 |
| People below the poverty line | 14.5% ±3.7 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.7% ±10.3 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 24.7% ±5.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±2.0 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.8% ±1.7 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 White Center?
Owners occupy 55.5% of White Center's occupied homes and renters 44.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $645,200 by its owner (±$29,132). The median renter pays $1,595 a month including utilities, and 44.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | White Center | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $645,200 ±$29,132 | $859,900 | +$172,737 |
| Median gross rent | $1,595 ±$127 | $2,092 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.6% ±8.6 pts | 37.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,661 ±$133 | $3,273 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.5% ±5.2 pts | 55.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.5% ±5.2 pts | 44.6% | – |
| Housing units | 6,034 ±379 | 1,003,284 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9% ±5.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.7% ±4.5 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.0% ±1.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.8% ±3.7 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.9% ±4.1 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.7% ±4.6 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 do people in White Center work and get to work?
56.9% of White Center's workers drive alone and 19.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | White Center | King County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.9% ±2.9 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 56.9% ±4.7 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.1% ±3.6 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.0% ±1.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.5% ±3.8 pts | 29.2% | +16.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.6 min ±1.4 | 27.6 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 White Center?
3 census tracts lie mostly in White Center, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $82,434 (Tract 268.01) to $116,250 (Tract 266).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 268.01King County | 5,997 | $82,434 |
| Tract 265King County | 4,282 | $85,952 |
| Tract 267King County | 6,265 | $101,836 |
| Tract 266King County | 2,201 | $116,250 |
| Tract 268.02King County | 6,279 | $85,284 |
| Tract 270King County | 3,293 | $113,611 |
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 White Center) · Census block assignment files
How does White Center compare with other places in Washington?
White Center ranks 225th 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) | 93rd | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th | 394 |
| Median household income | 225th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 176th | 393 |
| Median home value | 116th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 193rd | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 64th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 134th | 382 |
| Median age | 244th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 334th | 388 |
| Work from home | 119th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 137th | 394 |
White Center's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare White Center 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 White Center?
8 of the 57 figures for White Center 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 White Center 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.