METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Seattle Metro

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 3 counties · 3,043,878 residents · 5,870.23 sq mi

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The short version

Seattle is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $51,307. Population has grown 19% since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $199,995.

At a glance

Wealthier

above the US median

US median: $42,589

Mid-age

median age 35.1

US median: 35.2

More educated

32% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 24%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $120,530

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

3,043,878

+19%since 1990

from 2,559,164 in 1990

1990 – 2025

Population density

519 / sq mi

+19%since 1990

from 436 / sq mi in 1990

US average: 242

Median age

35.1

+7%since 1990

from 32.9 in 1990

US average: 35.2

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244.1M

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$51,307

+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $34,980 in 1990

US average: $42,589

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$26,332

+56%since 1990

from $16,895 in 1990

US average: $21,522

Poverty rate

8.5%

Unchangedsince 1990

from 8.5% in 1990

US average: 12.4%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$199,995

+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $124,051 in 1990

US average: $120,530

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$729

+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $498 in 1990

US average: $602

Owner-occupied

62.3%

+1.8 ptssince 1990

from 60.5% in 1990

37.7% rent

Afford Score

3.9

+10%since 1990

from 3.5 in 1990

1990 – 2024

RELATED:See current rent listings in Seattle on RentDataNow

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990

White, non-Hispanic86.5%(2,214,579)

Black4.8%(121,702)

Hispanic / Latino2.8%(71,069)

Asian6.4%(164,386)

Diversity Score35.5%(907,907)

2000

White, non-Hispanic76%(2,313,259)

Black4.9%(149,000)

Hispanic / Latino5.3%(162,453)

Asian8.4%(256,454)

Diversity Score42.7%(1,299,703)

Diversity Score

+20%since 1990

from 35 in 1990

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

32.4%

+5.5 ptssince 1990

from 26.9% in 1990

US average: 24.4%

High school or higher

89.3%

+2.6 ptssince 1990

from 86.6% in 1990

US average: 80.3%

Graduate degree

10.6%

+2.5 ptssince 1990

from 8.1% in 1990

US average: 8.8%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

19.1 min

−21%since 1990

from 24.1 min in 1990

US average: 17.6

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

SeattleCENTRAL784,777 TacomaCENTRAL229,816 BellevueCENTRAL154,193 KentCENTRAL134,871 EverettCENTRAL113,567 RentonCENTRAL104,975 AuburnCENTRAL86,301 RedmondCENTRAL82,506 LakewoodCENTRAL62,755

What's inside

3 component counties

King CountyCENTRAL2,344,939 Pierce CountyCENTRAL946,288 Snohomish CountyCENTRAL870,656

Drill deeper

Metros similar to Seattle

Head to head

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SEATTLE VS

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SEATTLE VS

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has about 3,043,878 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

The typical household in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA earns about $51,307 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA expensive?

In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, the median home is worth about $199,995, and the typical rent is about $729 a month.

How educated are people in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

About 32.4% of adults age 25 and over in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

About 8.5% of people in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA grown since 1990?

Yes, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 484,714 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →