With 51,513 people, Burien is a city in Washington. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 19,632 people. That puts it in the top 10% of US cities for household income. The typical home is worth $638,800, having more than tripled since 2000. There are 5,131 people per square mile. 26% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $91,318, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Burien
What changed most since 1990
White share89.3% → 45.7%(−43.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$256,087 → $638,800(+149%)US over the same years: +67%
Population25,089 → 51,513(+105%)US over the same years: +35%
Burien's population equals 2.3% of King County's. Its number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher equals 1.3% of the county's. Its number of people who work from home equals 1.3% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.5%(553)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20%(418)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.9%(665)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.7%(118)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.4%(50)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,085 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Burien, decade by decade
Burien population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
25,089
$77,429
$256,087
20.9%
24.9
2000
31,881
$75,739
$313,507
21.2%
58.3
2010
33,313
$74,798
$480,051
25.3%
77.2
2020
52,066
$86,337
$508,450
27.9%
88.8
2024
51,513
$91,318
$638,800
33.2%
87.3
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
