What percentage of people rent in Seattle, WA?
56.3% (±0.6 points) of the occupied homes in Seattle, WA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
That is 204,521 renting households against 158,945 that own their home.
In Seattle, the share of households that rent went from 54.3% in 2015–2019 to 56.3% in 2020–2024 (+2.0 percentage points), a measurable increase.
Figures last updated on .
- Households that rent
- 56.3% (±0.6 points)
- Renting households
- 204,521 (±2,822)
- Median renter income
- $88,103 (±$2,229)
Who rents and who owns in Seattle
| Seattle | King County | Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied share | 56.3% (±0.6 points) | 44.6% (±0.4 points) | 36.2% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Renting households | 204,521 (±2,822) | 419,249 (±3,837) | 1,110,043 (±7,257) | 45,017,354 |
| Owning households | 158,945 (±2,000) | 521,805 (±3,926) | 1,954,777 (±10,007) | 84,210,142 |
| Average renter household size | 1.7 (±0.0) | 2.1 (±0.0) | 2.2 (±0.0) | 2.3 |
| Average owner household size | 2.4 (±0.0) | 2.7 (±0.0) | 2.7 (±0.0) | 2.6 |
| Median renter household income | $88,103 (±$2,229) | $85,547 (±$1,255) | $66,868 (±$600) | $52,966 |
| Median owner household income | $190,719 (±$3,192) | $166,370 (±$1,692) | $119,764 (±$583) | $100,009 |
In Seattle, the renter share is higher than in King County (44.6%).
It is also higher than in Washington (36.2%).
It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).
In King County, Seattle ranks 3 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.
Statewide, it ranks 19 of 472.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
How renting in Seattle has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 54.3% (±0.5 points) | 56.3% (±0.6 points) | +2.0 percentage points | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $1,614 (±$17) | $2,030 (±$22) | +25.8% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $92,263 (±$1,277) | $123,860 (±$2,244) | +34.2% | Up after inflation |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Households that rent in places near Seattle
| Place | Distance | Households that rent | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | — | 56.3% (±0.6 points) | — |
| Medina | 5.1 mi | 20.5% (±7.4 points) | Lower |
| Hunts Point | 5.9 mi | 7.3% (±9.9 points) | Lower |
| Clyde Hill | 6.3 mi | 8.6% (±3.9 points) | Lower |
| Yarrow Point | 6.4 mi | 8.2% (±4.2 points) | Lower |
| Mercer Island | 6.8 mi | 33.0% (±3.1 points) | Lower |
| Beaux Arts Village | 7.3 mi | 9.3% (±7.5 points) | Lower |
| Bainbridge Island | 7.4 mi | 18.6% (±2.8 points) | Lower |
| Boulevard Park | 7.5 mi | 50.4% (±11.7 points) | Not measurably different |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Medina, WA (20.5%), Hunts Point, WA (7.3%), Clyde Hill, WA (8.6%).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Households that rent across King County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tukwila | 59.6% (±4.4 points) |
| 2 | Redmond | 56.8% (±1.9 points) |
| 3 | Seattle | 56.3% (±0.6 points) |
| 4 | SeaTac | 53.5% (±4.7 points) |
| 5 | Boulevard Park | 50.4% (±11.7 points) |
| 6 | Bellevue | 48.0% (±1.4 points) |
| 7 | Renton | 45.6% (±2.0 points) |
| 8 | Federal Way | 44.7% (±2.1 points) |
| 9 | White Center | 44.5% (±5.2 points) |
Showing 9 of 59 places in King County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in Seattle
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Seattle, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Seattle beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near Seattle, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about Seattle
How many renters are there in Seattle?
Seattle has an estimated 204,521 (±2,822) renting households, 56.3% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is renting growing in Seattle?
In Seattle, the share of households that rent went from 54.3% in 2015–2019 to 56.3% in 2020–2024 (+2.0 percentage points), a measurable increase.
How big are renting households in Seattle?
A renting household in Seattle has 1.7 people on average, against 2.4 in an owned home.
How much do renters earn in Seattle?
The median renting household in Seattle, WA has an income of $88,103 (±$2,229) a year, against $190,719 for households that own their home.
Sources
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Median Household Income by Tenure (B25119), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Median Household Income (B19013), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Seattle city, Washington (place:63000, in state:53).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in Seattle at a glance
- Median rent in Seattle
- Rent by bedrooms in Seattle
- Rent burden in Seattle
- Income and affordability in Seattle
- Home values in Seattle
- Homeowner costs in Seattle
- Property taxes in Seattle
- Types of homes in Seattle
- Bedrooms in Seattle
- Age of homes in Seattle
- Vacancy rate in Seattle
- Heating fuel in Seattle
- Commute and cars in Seattle
- Population growth in Seattle
- How long people stay in Seattle
- Crowding and facilities in Seattle
- Fair Market Rent in Seattle
- Washington landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across King County
- Washington places ranked by share of renters
- Housing data for every place in Washington