Population 7,816,116 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington
Household size in Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Washington sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.56, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in southeastern Washington and smallest in northwestern Washington.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.6, the median age in Washington is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in southeastern Washington and oldest in northwestern Washington.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Washington (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, 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 Washington
Renters in Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Washington is about as common as it is nationally: 36.2% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Washington than nationally: 7.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Washington has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Washington are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in Washington pays $1,875 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $858 a month from 2006–10, an 84% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.9% 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 Washington
Bachelor's degrees in Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Washington than nationally: 38.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Washington have finished high school (91.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Washington
| Period | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Washington is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.5 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Washington compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2.61 | 39.6 | 10.1% | 36.2% | 7.6% | 1984 | $1,875 | 38.8% | 91.9% | 5.1% |
| Oregon | 2.50 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 36.7% | 7.4% | 1981 | $1,601 | 36.4% | 91.5% | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 2.79 | 38.2 | 9.3% | 27.9% | 9.3% | 1989 | $1,407 | 31.7% | 92.1% | 3.8% |
| Montana | 2.44 | 41.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 12.2% | 1982 | $1,189 | 35.3% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
| Nevada | 2.73 | 40.0 | 12.8% | 40.0% | 9.0% | 1995 | $1,787 | 27.5% | 87.1% | 6.9% |
| Utah | 3.11 | 33.1 | 8.9% | 29.8% | 7.3% | 1991 | $1,701 | 38.3% | 93.5% | 3.5% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| California | 3.01 | 39.0 | 12.3% | 44.1% | 7.3% | 1976 | $2,229 | 36.3% | 84.2% | 6.6% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| North Dakota | 2.38 | 37.4 | 8.8% | 37.1% | 12.0% | 1985 | $1,031 | 33.9% | 94.1% | 2.8% |
| Arizona | 2.70 | 40.4 | 12.6% | 32.6% | 9.6% | 1992 | $1,736 | 33.3% | 89.1% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Pennsylvania · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota
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 Washington. 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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