State rank#1 of 39
Smallest county2,287,171 residentsKing County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 53033
King County, Washington
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population2,287,171
Household income$124,746
Unemployment4.1%
Life expectancy81.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
King County has 2,287,171 residents and ranks #1 by population among Washington county equivalents. Median household income is $124,746. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Washington
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to King County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside King County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $859,900 median home value and $2,092/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $124,746, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
King County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 56.7% and life expectancy is 81.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $124,746, rank #1 of 39 available Washington counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 56.7%, rank #1 of 39 available Washington counties.
- Poor or fair health: 11.6%, rank #1 of 39 available Washington counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $859,900, rank #39 of 39; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $2,092/mo, rank #39 of 39; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 81.1 years, rank #3 of 39; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Washington
Rank and range use only counties in Washington with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$124,746
$124,746; above the state county median of $74,202.
State rank #1 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$859,900
$859,900; above the state county median of $408,900.
State rank #39 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,092/mo
$2,092/mo; above the state county median of $1,198/mo.
State rank #39 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.1%
4.1%; below the state county median of 4.9%.
State rank #2 of 39 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
56.7%
56.7%; above the state county median of 29.8%.
State rank #1 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
81.1 years
81.1 years; above the state county median of 77.8 years.
State rank #3 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
11.6%
11.6%; below the state county median of 17.4%.
State rank #1 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.7%
5.7%; below the state county median of 8.3%.
State rank #1 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 839 residents
1 per 839 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,483 residents.
State rank #1 of 37 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 157 residents
1 per 157 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 245 residents.
State rank #2 of 39 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
King County FAQ
Is King County a good place to live?
King County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 56.7% and life expectancy is 81.1 years.
What should I know before moving to King County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $859,900 median home value and $2,092/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $124,746, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of King County?
King County has 2,287,171 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for King County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 53033; the parent state FIPS is 53.
What is the median household income in King County?
The ACS median household income is $124,746.
How much does housing cost in King County?
Housing benchmarks are $859,900 median home value and $2,092/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $124,746, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in King County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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