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CITY

Fort Lewis

Washington · 15,167 residents · 10.289 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Lewis has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,796. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 3,922 residents. Renters pay a median $2,282 per month, above the US median of $1,442. At a median age of 22.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 40% less than the Washington median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 22.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Renter-heavy
1% owner-occupied
US average: 65%
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,167
−21%since 2000
from 19,089 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
1,474 / sq mi
−21%since 2000
from 1,855 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
22.9
+2%since 2000
from 22.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K13K17K20K23K1990201020202024Fort Lewis
202415K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,796
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,384 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,633
+91%since 2000
from $12,865 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.3%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.341
−3%since 2010
from 0.353 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services10.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median gross rent
$2,282
+93%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $650 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
1.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.5% in 2000
99.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
34.4%
+34.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
73.7%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Lewis on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56%(10,685)
Black19.7%(3,758)
Hispanic / Latino13.1%(2,507)
Asian3.3%(631)
Other0%
Diversity Score70.4%(13,441)
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.6%(6,317)
Black16.6%(2,520)
Hispanic / Latino26.5%(4,026)
Asian3.6%(547)
Other11.6%(1,757)
Diversity Score89.2%(13,532)
Diversity Score
89
+27%since 2000
from 70 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.4%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 96.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.4 min
+14%since 2000
from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
61.1%
+25.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.4%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
19.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
82.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 82.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.4%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.6%
−27.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
63.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 67.6% in 2009
Female
36.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.4% in 2009
Foreign born
11.0%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
21.4%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
4.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 5.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
0.8%
−97.6 ptssince 2013
from 98.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
98.2%
+8.4 ptssince 2017
from 89.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
73.6%
−9.7 ptssince 2016
from 83.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2016
from 10.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Lewis, Washington?

Fort Lewis, Washington has about 15,167 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Lewis, Washington?

The typical household in Fort Lewis, Washington earns about $58,796 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Lewis, Washington expensive?

In Fort Lewis, Washington, the typical rent is about $2,282 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Lewis, Washington?

About 24.4% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Lewis, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Lewis, Washington?

About 13.2% of people in Fort Lewis, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Lewis, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Lewis, Washington has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 7,057 residents, a change of about -32 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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