Bellevue, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 151,847 Household income: $165,576 Rent: $2,572

Overview

Total population

151,847

Rent

$2,572

Year built

1982

Household income

$165,576

Per capita income

$97,015

Poverty rate

7.2%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

34.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

151,847

Adults over 25

112,158

Total households

61,977

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$165,576

Per capita income

$97,015

Poverty rate

7.2%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Rent over 30% of income

34.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,572

Year built

1982

Households that rent

48%

Households that own

52%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

41.3%

Black

2.6%

Asian

42.8%

Two or more races

9.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

64.4%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

35.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

14.4%

High school graduate or GED

Some college or associate degree

5.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

72.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Bellevue, WA with: Washington State United States

Bellevue, WA

Total population151,847

Rent$2,572

Year built1982

Household income$165,576

Per capita income$97,015

Poverty rate7.2%

Unemployment rate3.0%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBellevue, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	151,847	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$2,572	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1982	1985	1980
Household income	$165,576	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$97,015	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	7.2%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.0%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Bellevue, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Bellevue, WA

Bellevue is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Bellevue, the typical monthly rent is $2,572 and the typical household income is $165,576. Rent here is higher than in both Washington and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 7.2%, which is lower than in both Washington and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 48% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. Around 34.3% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 72.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.0%, which is lower than both Washington and the national rate.

Bellevue, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Bellevue, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Bellevue, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,572	24 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$165,576	2 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	7.2%	4 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	3%	2 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Bellevue, WA

Rent

For typical rent levels, Bellevue is ranked 24th out of 25 major areas in Washington. Statewide values span from $1,117 in Yakima, WA to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Bellevue comes in 2nd among 25 major places. Across Washington, income levels vary from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Bellevue ranks 4th out of 25 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Bellevue ranks 2nd out of 25 significant areas. Across Washington, unemployment varies from 2.8% in Redmond, WA to 6.8% in Yakima, WA.

💰 Rent in Bellevue, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,572 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Bellevue, WA

Annual Household Income: $165,576

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Bellevue, WA

Estimated Rate: 7.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Bellevue, WA

In Bellevue, WA, households that rent: 29,743 (48%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	29,743	48%
Owner-Occupied	32,234	52%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Bellevue, WA

In Bellevue, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 10,211 (34.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	10,211	34.3%
Other renter households	19,532	65.7%
Total renter households	29,743	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Bellevue, WA

Less than High School: 16,096 people (14.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,950 people (8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,255 people (5.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 80,857 people (72.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 112,158

📊 Unemployment Rate in Bellevue, WA

Estimated Rate: 3.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Charleston, SC152,014 Roseville, CA152,438 Hollywood, FL152,935 Sunnyvale, CA153,455 Escondido, CA149,913 Jackson, MS149,827 Joliet, IL149,785 Surprise, AZ149,519 Naperville, IL149,424 Pasadena, TX149,345

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.