Washington State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 7,816,116 Household income: $98,141 Rent: $1,760

Overview

Total population

7,816,116

Rent

$1,760

Year built

1985

Household income

$98,141

Per capita income

$53,744

Poverty rate

9.9%

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.5%

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

7,816,116

Adults over 25

5,484,391

Total households

3,064,820

Household size

2.5 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

$98,141

Per capita income

$53,744

Poverty rate

9.9%

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Rent over 30% of income

47.5%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,760

Year built

1985

Households that rent

36.2%

Households that own

63.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

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

Race

White

65.8%

Black

Asian

9.8%

Two or more races

12.8%

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

14.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

85.6%

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

80.2%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

19.8%

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

27.5%

High school graduate or GED

21.6%

Some college or associate degree

11.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.6%

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

Comparison of Washington with: Oregon Idaho United States

Washington

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

Oregon

Total population4,254,293

Rent$1,525

Year built1981

Household income$83,011

Per capita income$45,612

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Idaho

Total population1,934,262

Rent$1,238

Year built1991

Household income$77,800

Per capita income$38,952

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3.7%

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	StateWashington	StateOregon	StateIdaho	CountyUnited States
Total population	7,816,116	4,254,293	1,934,262	334,922,499
Rent	$1,760	$1,525	$1,238	$1,413
Year built	1985	1981	1991	1980
Household income	$98,141	$83,011	$77,800	$80,734
Per capita income	$53,744	$45,612	$38,952	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.9%	11.9%	10.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.5%	4.2%	3.7%	4%

Washington is compared to its neighboring states — Oregon and Idaho — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Washington State

Washington has about 7,816,116 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Washington is $1,760, which is higher than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Washington is $98,141, higher than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 9.9%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 63.8% of homes. About 36.2% of households in Washington are renters. Around 47.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Homes are a mix of older and newer construction, with many built around 1985.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 39.6% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Washington is 4.5%, higher than the U.S. rate of 4%.

Washington State — Rent vs Household Income

Washington State — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Washington State (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,760 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 Washington State

Annual Household Income: $98,141

💡 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 Washington State

Estimated Rate: 9.9%

💡 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 Washington State

In Washington State, households that rent: 1,110,043 (36.2%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	1,110,043	36.2%
Owner-Occupied	1,954,777	63.8%

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 Washington State

In Washington State, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 526,914 (47.5%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	526,914	47.5%
Other renter households	583,129	52.5%
Total renter households	1,110,043	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 Washington State

Less than High School: 1,510,352 people (27.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 1,184,550 people (21.6%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 616,953 people (11.2%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 2,172,536 people (39.6%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 5,484,391

📊 Unemployment Rate in Washington State

Estimated Rate: 4.5%

💡 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%.

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.