State
Washington
Washington. Washington had 8,001,020 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than the United States (+3.1%). 639 places (281 incorporated and 358 census-designated) in 39 counties; 66,455 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
8,001,020
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,705,281
Median household income
$98,141
±$414 (90% margin)
Median home value
$564,600
±$1,940 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$1,760
±$7 (90% margin)
How many people live in Washington?
The 2020 Census counted 7,705,281 residents in Washington. The Census Bureau estimates 8,001,020 for July 1, 2025, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than the United States (+3.1%). 83.4% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
Washington is the 13th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,816,116 | +412,009 |
| Households | 3,064,820 ±5,874 | +216,424 |
| Average household size | 2.50 ±0.01 | −0.05 |
| Housing units | 3,306,620 ±517 | +200,092 |
Washington's population since 2000
From 5,894,121 in 2000 to 8,001,020 in 2025: up 35.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Washington?
Seattle is Washington's largest place with 784,777 residents in 2025, followed by Spokane (230,783 residents in 2025) and Tacoma (229,816 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 784,777 | $123,860 |
| Spokane | 230,783 | $70,064 |
| Tacoma | 229,816 | $85,884 |
| Vancouver | 199,698 | $81,338 |
| Bellevue | 154,193 | $165,576 |
| Kent | 134,871 | $92,302 |
| Everett | 113,567 | $83,512 |
| Spokane Valley | 108,405 | $74,042 |
| Renton | 104,975 | $100,432 |
| Federal Way | 99,729 | $86,909 |
| Yakima | 97,458 | $62,815 |
| Kirkland | 97,410 | $150,414 |
| Bellingham | 96,395 | $66,755 |
| Kennewick | 88,366 | $73,576 |
| Auburn | 86,301 | $97,884 |
| Pasco | 82,848 | $85,586 |
| Redmond | 82,506 | $162,560 |
| Marysville | 77,686 | $103,974 |
| South Hill | 68,025 | $113,130 |
| Shoreline | 66,542 | $112,751 |
| Sammamish | 66,110 | $239,690 |
| Richland | 65,258 | $95,813 |
| Lakewood | 62,755 | $74,720 |
| Lacey | 58,833 | $90,625 |
| Olympia | 56,724 | $81,302 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Washington?
Washington has 39 counties. King County is the largest with 2,344,939 residents in 2025; Garfield County is the smallest with 2,416.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Washington?
The median resident of Washington is 38.3 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 16.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 14.4%. 15.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 ±0.1 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 21.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.4% | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.1% ±0.1 pts | −5.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 9.7% ±0.1 pts | +1.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.4% ±0.1 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.4% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.3% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.6% ±0.3 pts | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Washington earn?
Half of Washington's 3,064,820 households earn less than $98,141 a year (±$414). In 2015-2019 the median was $90,794 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,347 after inflation. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $98,141 ±$414 | +$7,347 |
| Mean household income | $134,588 ±$663 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,744 ±$274 | +$5,852 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.9% ±0.2 pts | −0.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.6% ±0.4 pts | −2.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Washington?
Owners occupy 63.8% of Washington's occupied homes and renters 36.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $564,600 by its owner (±$1,940). The median renter pays $1,760 a month including utilities, and 40.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $564,600 ±$1,940 | +$147,395 |
| Median gross rent | $1,760 ±$7 | +$212 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.1% ±0.4 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,445 ±$8 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.8% ±0.3 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Housing units | 3,306,620 ±517 | +200,092 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Washington building?
Builders took permits for 34,913 new housing units in Washington in 2025 (17,780 single-family), 4.4 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Washington get to work?
63.4% of Washington's workers drive alone and 19.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 63.4% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 3.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 3.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 19.8% ±0.2 pts | +13.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.6 min ±0.1 | −1.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections