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CITY · 2020 ACS

Rainier

Washington · 2,369 residents · 1.74 sq mi
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The short version

With 2,369 people, Rainier is a city in Washington. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 877 people. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 2%. The median age is 35.1, younger than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,369
+59%since 2000
from 1,492 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.1
+3%since 2000
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1.74 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
8131K2K2K3K19902000201020202024Rainier
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 58.3%(197)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(169)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.3%(172)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.1%(145)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(113)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416.1%(381)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4414.1%(335)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.2%(265)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.2%(288)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.6%(204)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843%(72)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.2%(28)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,016
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,955 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,729
+61%since 2000
from $16,636 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
50.7%
+26.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade14.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 10%
Information4.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Arts, entertainment, food4.1%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services0.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Public administration0.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,800
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,339
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $613 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
80.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.6% in 2000
19.9% rent
Persons per household
2.99 people
+17%since 2009
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
3.1
−16%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(1,346)
Black0.5%(8)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(58)
Asian0.7%(11)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic79.4%(1,882)
Black0.8%(19)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(192)
Asian1.9%(44)
Other9.9%(234)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.9%(102)
Spaniard0.3%(7)
Asian origin
Korean0.8%(22)
Japanese0.5%(14)
Chinese0.1%(3)
Filipino0.1%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.7%(17)
Ancestry
German21.2%(552)
Irish16.7%(436)
English6.6%(171)
Norwegian5.2%(135)
Italian3.5%(91)
Danish3.5%(90)
Polish2.8%(72)
American1.9%(50)
French1.8%(48)
Swedish1.7%(45)
Scottish1.7%(44)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese1.3%(34)
Dutch1%(27)
Russian1%(25)
Swiss0.8%(22)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(20)
Austrian0.5%(13)
Czech0.3%(9)
Greek0.3%(8)
Welsh0.3%(7)
British0.2%(6)
Finnish0.2%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
35.4 min
+44%since 2000
from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−8.6 ptssince 2011
from 13.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
53.2%
−14.8 ptssince 2011
from 68.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
57.7%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
28.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Female
48.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.7%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
93.7%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
89.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married27.2%(245)
Married62.2%(560)
Widowed1%(9)
Divorced9.7%(87)
Women 15+
Never married30.6%(288)
Married55.2%(520)
Widowed2.5%(24)
Divorced11.7%(110)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
3.7%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
44.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
7.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
17.8%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
33.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
62.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
48.3%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)37.3%(125)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)27.8%(93)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era29%(97)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.4%(18)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 335 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
Drill deeper

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Compare Rainier to nearby cities

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Income$90,750+19%
Home value$455,300+96%
Population12,043+383%
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RAINIER VS
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Income$90,625+19%
Home value$457,100+96%
Population58,833+2258%
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RAINIER VS
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Home value$472,200+103%
Population28,010+1023%
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RAINIER VS
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Home value$486,200+109%
Population56,724+2174%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rainier, Washington?

Rainier, Washington has about 2,369 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rainier, Washington?

The typical household in Rainier, Washington earns about $76,016 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 $232,800, and the typical rent is about $1,339 a month.

How educated are people in Rainier, Washington?

About 14.3% 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 11.8% 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 1,378 residents, a change of about 139 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →