AreaProfile

Washington Area Profiles

4 published city profiles across Washington, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.

Statewide signals

OpportunityTop 34% of 51 states56
GrowthTop 10% of 51 states68
ClimateTop 44% of 51 states66
Physical resilience38th of 51 states42
Access33rd of 51 states65
Economic stabilityTop 16% of 51 states79

Cities

CityPopulationOpportunityGrowthArea Score
Seattle754,195576262
Spokane230,293664370
Tacoma222,758477158
Vancouver195,300475563

Strongest opportunity

  1. Spokane 66
  2. Seattle 57
  3. Tacoma 47
  4. Vancouver 47

Fastest development

  1. Tacoma 71
  2. Seattle 62
  3. Vancouver 55
  4. Spokane 43

Statewide physical risk

EarthquakeElevated
Heat waveModerate

Low or minimal exposure: landslide, inland flooding, volcanic activity, winter weather, ice storm, wildfire, avalanche, lightning, cold wave, coastal flooding, tornado, tsunami, strong wind, hail, drought.

Population-weighted across every county in Washington, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.

Statewide data

MetricValueCompared with peersSource period
Average household size ±0.012.50Top 27%2024 ACS 5-Year
Households ±5,8743,064,820Top 24%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age ±0.138.3Bottom 29%2024 ACS 5-Year
Population7,816,116Top 24%2024 ACS 5-Year
Population density118/sq miTop 45%2024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate63.8%Bottom 20%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units ±5173,306,620Top 24%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent ±$7$1,760Top 10%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value ±$1,940$564,600Top 6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Vacancy rate7.3%Bottom 2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income ±$414$98,141Top 14%2024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income ±$274$53,744Top 8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate9.9%Bottom 14%2024 ACS 5-Year
Average commute28.5 minTop 24%2024 ACS 5-Year
Bachelor's degree or higher39.6%Top 20%2024 ACS 5-Year
Employment3,843,224Top 24%July 2026
Employment change (3 years)-0.9%Bottom 38%July 2026
Employment change (year over year)-0.8%Top 48%July 2026
Labor force4,023,328Top 24%July 2026
Labor force participation64.5%Top 43%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment change (year over year)-0.1%Top 32%July 2026
Unemployment rate4.5%Top 34%July 2026