People · How households shape the region

The region is not becoming one kind of place.

Family life, age, income, and homeownership cluster in very different ways. The contrasts are sharpest between the urban core, the Eastside, and the region’s older communities.

The family center

Sammamish is among the region’s most family-oriented cities.

86.7% of households are estimated to be families.

That concentration may increase demand for larger homes, schools, parks, and transportation built around household schedules rather than downtown commuting alone.

A different household pattern

Seattle makes more room for life outside the family household.

Among the region’s larger cities, its estimated family-household share sits near the low end.

That may create stronger demand for smaller homes, flexible neighborhoods, and services designed for people living alone or with roommates.

The age divide

Bainbridge Island sits at the older end of the region.

Its estimated median age is 49.

If that pattern holds, housing turnover, accessible transportation, healthcare, and the ability to age in place will become increasingly important local questions.

See the pattern

Family households

Family households
LowerHigher
Gray: unavailable or withheld
How the measures connect

Age and household pattern are connected—but not interchangeable.

Older cities do not all have fewer families, and family-oriented cities do not all have the same age profile. The outliers point to different needs for schools, smaller homes, and aging in place.

Hover to compare. Click or tap to keep a city selected.

Bainbridge IslandFifeSammamishSeattleMedian ageFamily households314987%42%
Selected citySeattleKing County · 823400 residents
Median age
36
Family households
42%
Open Seattle →
Put two places side by side

Build a two-city brief.

Choose any two cities. The bars show each city's position across the full region; farther right means more of that measure, not necessarily a better outcome.

SeattleKing County · 823400 residents
BellevueKing County · 158300 residents

Family households

42%
63%

Living alone

43%
28%

Median age

36
39

Below poverty line

10%
7%
Every city

Compare the full region.

City
BrierSnohomish County · 6630 residents87%9%——
SammamishKing County · 68500 residents87%10%404%
SnoqualmieKing County · 14550 residents84%14%391%
Maple ValleyKing County · 29340 residents81%14%375%
Bonney LakePierce County · 23510 residents80%16%374%
Normandy ParkKing County · 6860 residents79%18%——
OrtingPierce County · 9160 residents79%14%342%
Lake StevensSnohomish County · 42590 residents78%18%355%
MonroeSnohomish County · 20930 residents76%20%367%
CovingtonKing County · 22200 residents76%18%365%
Bainbridge IslandKitsap County · 25650 residents75%20%494%
EdgewoodPierce County · 14160 residents73%20%395%
DuPontPierce County · 10190 residents73%—34—
MarysvilleSnohomish County · 76820 residents71%21%388%
Mercer IslandKing County · 25870 residents70%24%464%
AuburnKing|Pierce County · 90350 residents69%24%369%
MukilteoSnohomish County · 21610 residents68%26%43—
Port OrchardKitsap County · 20500 residents68%25%3510%
KentKing County · 140400 residents68%25%3611%
Lake Forest ParkKing County · 13700 residents66%24%424%
University PlacePierce County · 36490 residents66%27%408%
SteilacoomPierce County · 6890 residents66%26%40—
FifePierce County · 11440 residents66%24%3111%
ArlingtonSnohomish County · 23390 residents66%26%3713%
BothellKing|Snohomish County · 52010 residents66%26%395%
NewcastleKing County · 13940 residents66%24%38—
IssaquahKing County · 41590 residents65%26%385%
Federal WayKing County · 103000 residents65%26%3713%
KenmoreKing County · 24600 residents64%28%396%
Gig HarborPierce County · 13140 residents64%33%477%
WoodinvilleKing County · 14350 residents64%26%413%
ShorelineKing County · 64710 residents63%29%439%
EdmondsSnohomish County · 43770 residents63%29%474%
BellevueKing County · 158300 residents63%28%397%
SnohomishSnohomish County · 10770 residents63%—437%
Mill CreekSnohomish County · 21630 residents63%30%396%
PuyallupPierce County · 44000 residents63%25%377%
BurienKing County · 53470 residents62%30%4013%
KirklandKing County · 98860 residents61%28%386%
RentonKing County · 109800 residents61%29%378%
EnumclawKing|Pierce County · 13440 residents61%28%428%
SeaTacKing County · 33210 residents61%31%379%
Des MoinesKing County · 33690 residents61%30%3812%
PoulsboKitsap County · 13510 residents61%31%439%
LynnwoodSnohomish County · 43070 residents59%32%3814%
RedmondKing County · 83320 residents59%32%356%
SumnerPierce County · 11080 residents59%31%385%
TacomaPierce County · 231000 residents58%32%3712%
TukwilaKing County · 23290 residents58%32%3513%
Mountlake TerraceSnohomish County · 24750 residents57%30%387%
LakewoodPierce County · 64980 residents57%33%3713%
EverettSnohomish County · 114900 residents54%33%3713%
BremertonKitsap County · 46310 residents52%34%3314%
SeattleKing County · 823400 residents42%43%3610%
AlgonaKing County · 3335 residents—10%35—
Beaux Arts VillageKing County · 310 residents————
Black DiamondKing County · 7550 residents—17%382%
BuckleyPierce County · 5905 residents——439%
CarbonadoPierce County · 755 residents——31—
CarnationKing County · 2415 residents—10%372%
Clyde HillKing County · 3100 residents——493%
DarringtonSnohomish County · 1520 residents————
DuvallKing County · 8910 residents—15%36—
EatonvillePierce County · 2945 residents———3%
FircrestPierce County · 7250 residents——45—
Gold BarSnohomish County · 2420 residents——36—
Granite FallsSnohomish County · 4765 residents——373%
Hunts PointKing County · 455 residents————
IndexSnohomish County · 170 residents————
MedinaKing County · 2915 residents——47—
MiltonKing|Pierce County · 8965 residents—28%3810%
North BendKing County · 8700 residents—18%394%
PacificKing|Pierce County · 7285 residents—15%3814%
RoyPierce County · 820 residents————
RustonPierce County · 1080 residents————
SkykomishKing County · 165 residents————
South PrairiePierce County · 630 residents————
StanwoodSnohomish County · 9325 residents——368%
SultanSnohomish County · 7480 residents——37—
WilkesonPierce County · 500 residents————
WoodwaySnohomish County · 1340 residents——482%
Yarrow PointKing County · 1130 residents———5%