United States › Washington › Rainier CITY
Rainier Washington · 2,495 residents (2025 est.) · 1.74 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 2,455 people, Rainier is a city in Washington. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 963 people. Owners hold 86% of the housing stock. That puts it in the top 6% of US cities for household income. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The average commute runs 38 minutes.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 112%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 1,492 in 2000
2,495 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,413 / sq mi
+38%since 2009
from 1,022 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
813 1K 2K 2K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Rainier Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $106,019
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,955 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,636 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.293 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 6.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Education & health services 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$425,900
+112%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,227
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $613 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 80.6% in 2000
14.2% rent
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.12 people
+22%since 2009
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.2%(1,346)
Hispanic / Latino 3.9%(58)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 84%(2,063)
Hispanic / Latino 11.4%(281)
from 36 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 57.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 86.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 7.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 33.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 48.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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) 37.4%(68)
Share of the 182 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.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Rainier, Washington? Rainier, Washington has about 2,455 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Rainier, Washington? The typical household in Rainier, Washington earns about $106,019 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Rainier, Washington expensive? In Rainier, Washington, the median home is worth about $425,900, and the typical rent is about $1,227 a month.
How educated are people in Rainier, Washington? About 22.4% of adults age 25 and over in Rainier, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Rainier, Washington? About 14.6% of people in Rainier, Washington live below the federal poverty line.
Has Rainier, Washington grown since 1990? Yes, Rainier, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,464 residents, a change of about 148 percent over that period.
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