Population 67,146 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lakewood
Household size in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in Lakewood has 2.43 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.35, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.9 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Lakewood are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Lakewood as they are nationally: 12.1%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Seattle area (9.1%). The single-parent share is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lakewood
Renters in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.6% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.3% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.6% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 52.9% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Lakewood: 52.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 3.7 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 219 Washington cities with 5,000+ people, only 11 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Lakewood is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Seattle area overall (6.6%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Lakewood are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in the wider Seattle area, where the median home dates to 1983. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $927 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,005 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,193 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,672 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$746 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lakewood costs $1,672 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Seattle area overall ($2,193). Rents are up $746 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lakewood
Bachelor's degrees in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lakewood: 23.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.2% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Lakewood have finished high school as nationally: 88.2%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Seattle area overall (93.1%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lakewood is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lakewood compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | 2.43 | 39.5 | 12.1% | 52.9% | 8.8% | 1976 | $1,672 | 23.4% | 88.2% | 5.6% |
| Steilacoom | 2.44 | 41.7 | 7.8% | 33.7% | 5.1% | 1979 | $2,041 | 46.9% | 92.7% | 6.6% |
| University Place | 2.59 | 40.1 | 9.3% | 44.6% | 5.9% | 1980 | $1,987 | 41.2% | 95.3% | 5.0% |
| Tillicum | 3.00 | 23.7 | 18.7% | 99.9% | 8.6% | 1986 | $2,295 | 19.2% | 90.1% | 6.2% |
| North Fort Lewis | 3.57 | 23.9 | 2.4% | 99.2% | 3.3% | 2002 | $2,475 | 26.9% | 96.8% | 11.9% |
| Parkland | 2.70 | 36.8 | 14.1% | 48.9% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,655 | 19.1% | 90.2% | 6.3% |
| Fircrest | 2.49 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 26.7% | 3.1% | 1972 | $1,628 | 49.6% | 98.3% | 6.2% |
| Midland | 2.77 | 35.4 | 17.2% | 43.2% | 6.5% | 1981 | $1,532 | 20.7% | 88.4% | 4.3% |
| Fort Lewis | 3.05 | 21.8 | 27.0% | 98.9% | 19.5% | 1983 | $2,237 | 24.4% | 97.6% | 5.2% |
| Tacoma | 2.49 | 38.3 | 13.5% | 41.9% | 5.6% | 1968 | $1,845 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 6.2% |
| Dupont | 2.80 | 32.9 | 6.0% | 38.5% | 3.6% | 2002 | $2,366 | 51.8% | 95.3% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bethesda, MD · Portland, ME · Covina, CA · Troy, NY · Lake Elsinore, CA · Riverdale, GA · Rome, GA · Salisbury, MD · Sanford, NC · Tamarac, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lakewood. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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