HomeWashingtonKing County
King County, Washington: commercial real estate data.
King County, Washington had an estimated 2,340,211 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 2,269,666, across 2,116 square miles. County output reached $477.15 bn in 2024, 70,376 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 3,575 7(a) approvals worth $2.13 bn since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
King County
How many people live in King County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20242,287,171
- Households941,054
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$124,746
- Median age37.4
- Median gross rent$2,092 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$859,900
- Home value to household income6.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher56.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree24.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over1,657,996
- Population under 18445,594
- Share under 1819.5 percent
- Population 65 and over320,899
- Share 65 and over14.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 641,520,678
- Civilian labor force1,320,458
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.7 percent
- Rank by population among Washington counties1st of 39
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included13th of 3,222
King County is the 1st largest of 39 Washington counties by population. A median home costs 6.9 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.5 percent against 14.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
King County
Is King County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20242,340,211
- Census 2020 base population2,269,666
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.11 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202443,398
- Births, 202422,517
- Deaths, 202415,102
- Natural change, 20247,415
- Net domestic migration, 2024-12,501
- Net international migration, 202448,433
- Total net migration, 202435,932
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-87,729
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents842nd of 3,144
The county has grown 3.11 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
King County
Where are people moving to King County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving68,773
- People arriving, from those returns98,161
- Tax returns filed by households leaving73,865
- Net household movement-5,092
- Adjusted gross income arriving$8.11 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.63 bn
- Average income of an arriving household$117,917
- Average income of a leaving household$158,929
- Largest single originSnohomish County (7,363 households)
- Largest single destinationSnohomish County (12,297 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snohomish County | 7,363 | 11,263 | $800.1 m |
| Pierce County | 6,593 | 10,340 | $452.2 m |
| Los Angeles County | 2,616 | 3,522 | $367.7 m |
| Santa Clara County | 1,744 | 2,576 | $506.3 m |
| Maricopa County | 1,201 | 1,730 | $136.6 m |
| San Diego County | 1,193 | 1,659 | $138.7 m |
| Cook County | 1,183 | 1,546 | $272.1 m |
| Kitsap County | 1,079 | 1,499 | $121.6 m |
Households arriving report $41,012 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Snohomish County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
King County
What is the King County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$477.15 bn
- County GDP, 2023$442.14 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.9 percent
- GDP change over five years40.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Washington areas BEA publishes1st of 39
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes5th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$208,622
Output grew 7.9 percent in the latest year and 40.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
King County
Employment by industry in King County
- Covered employment, annual average1,449,785
- Establishments reporting82,150
- Average annual pay$132,279
- Average weekly wage$2,544
- Health care and social assistance, employment164,374
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$77,501
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment150,811
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$173,309
- Information, employment128,749
- Information, average annual pay$350,208
- Accommodation and food services, employment109,111
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$40,740
- Retail trade, employment103,571
- Manufacturing, employment92,007
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 164,374 | 7,936 | $77,501 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 150,811 | 17,254 | $173,309 |
| Information | 128,749 | 4,093 | $350,208 |
| Accommodation and food services | 109,111 | 6,305 | $40,740 |
| Retail trade | 103,571 | 5,760 | $58,100 |
| Manufacturing | 92,007 | 2,457 | $114,538 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 86,295 | 347 | $302,335 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 71,549 | 4,596 | $85,591 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 164,374 jobs, 11.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
King County
How many businesses are in King County?
- Establishments, all industries70,376
- Employment at those establishments1,305,947
- Annual payroll$143.71 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
King County
Building permits in King County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202410,564
- Declared construction value permitted$2.71 bn
- Single family units authorized2,352
- Multifamily units authorized8,212
- Multifamily share of units77.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$256,544
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.2
Multifamily is 77.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
King County
SBA loans in King County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded3,575
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.13 bn
- Average 7(a) approval$595,226
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,619,240
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)36,035
- Jobs per approval10.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active146
- Distinct industries receiving approvals457
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms446
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2,940
- Franchise loans313
- Franchise share of approvals8.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (263)
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (406)
- 504 approvals recorded579
- 504 gross approval dollars$626.0 m
- Average 504 approval$1,081,195
- Median 504 approval$750,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval9.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.3
- Most active CDCEvergreen Business Capital (275)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$2.75 bn
The average approval of $595,226 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
King County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in King County
Do SBA loans in King County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded673
- Paid in full624
- Charged off49
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full624
- Status: Exempt from disclosure2,196
- Status: Cancelled477
- Status: Charged off49
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed229
| NAICS | Industry | Resolved loans | Charged off | Charge off rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | 45 | 2 | 4.4% |
| 722513 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 40 | 3 | 7.5% |
Of the 673 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong. Among industries with at least 30 resolved loans, Limited-Service Restaurants carries the highest charge-off rate at 7.5 percent.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
King County
SBA lending by place in King County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending59
- Seattle, approvals1,170
- Kent, approvals281
- Bellevue, approvals269
- Renton, approvals212
- Auburn, approvals188
- Federal Way, approvals181
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 1,170 | $667,536,400 |
| Kent | 281 | $225,010,500 |
| Bellevue | 269 | $163,505,900 |
| Renton | 212 | $100,642,200 |
| Auburn | 188 | $83,301,600 |
| Federal Way | 181 | $87,121,900 |
| Kirkland | 173 | $111,074,400 |
| Redmond | 158 | $95,735,600 |
| 51 other borrower cities | 943 | $594,002,800 |
Seattle accounts for 1,170 approvals against 281 in Kent. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
King County
How large is King County?
- Land area2,116 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Washington counties11th of 39
- Width, east to west68.7 mi
- Height, north to south47.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land1,081
- Establishments per square mile33.26
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
King County
Flood risk in King County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community King County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 530071
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 2
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book38
- Of those, participating in the NFIP38
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 2
- Communities carrying a CRS class10
- Radon levels in King County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated King County (community 530071), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 2, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places King County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 2, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a King County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a King County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20242,287,171
- Households941,054
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$124,746
- Median age37.4
Common questions
King County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in King County, Washington?
The Census Bureau estimates 2,340,211 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 2,287,171, in 941,054 households, ranking 1st of 39 Washington counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is King County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.11 percent since the 2020 census base of 2,269,666, to 2,340,211 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 22,517 births against 15,102 deaths, with net migration of 35,932. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in King County?
$124,746. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $859,900, which is 6.9 times income, and median gross rent is $2,092 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in King County?
70,376 establishments, employing 1,305,947 people with an annual payroll of $143.71 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in King County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 164,374 jobs, 11.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 1,449,785 jobs at an average annual pay of $132,279, or $2,544 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in King County?
3,575 7(a) approvals totaling $2.13 bn since FY2020, across 146 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 579 504 approvals worth $626.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in King County get paid back?
Of the 673 loans that have reached a final outcome, 624 were paid in full and 49 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in King County?
10,564 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.71 bn. Multifamily was 77.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for King County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to King County come from?
The largest single origin is Snohomish County, with 7,363 households. Arriving households report an average income of $117,917 against $158,929 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for King County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for King County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
King County
Cities and places in King.
63 Census places lie wholly or partly in King County. All 63 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | city | 754,195 | 1,170 | Wholly in this county |
| Bellevue | city | 151,847 | 269 | Wholly in this county |
| Kent | city | 135,603 | 281 | Wholly in this county |
| Renton | city | 105,317 | 212 | Wholly in this county |
| Federal Way | city | 99,493 | 181 | Wholly in this county |
| Kirkland | city | 92,621 | 173 | Wholly in this county |
| Auburn | city | 85,676 | 188 | 94.5 percent here, 5.5 percent Pierce County |
| Redmond | city | 77,353 | 158 | Wholly in this county |
| Sammamish | city | 66,463 | 50 | Wholly in this county |
| Shoreline | city | 61,431 | 70 | Wholly in this county |
| Burien | city | 51,513 | 48 | Wholly in this county |
| Bothell | city | 49,610 | 52 | 53.1 percent here, 46.9 percent Snohomish County |
| Issaquah | city | 39,591 | 87 | Wholly in this county |
| Des Moines | city | 32,823 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| SeaTac | city | 32,414 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Maple Valley | city | 28,287 | 55 | Wholly in this county |
| Mercer Island | city | 25,307 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Kenmore | city | 23,741 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Union Hill-Novelty Hill | CDP | 23,047 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cottage Lake | CDP | 22,518 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tukwila | city | 21,451 | 81 | Wholly in this county |
| Covington | city | 21,233 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairwood | CDP | 17,856 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway | CDP | 17,638 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeland North | CDP | 15,950 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| White Center | CDP | 14,886 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Snoqualmie | city | 13,798 | 38 | Wholly in this county |
| Woodinville | city | 13,438 | 122 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Forest Park | city | 13,335 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeland South | CDP | 13,100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Newcastle | city | 12,989 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Enumclaw | city | 12,798 | 68 | Wholly in this county |
| East Renton Highlands | CDP | 12,582 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Morton-Berrydale | CDP | 11,183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vashon | CDP | 9,934 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Milton | city | 8,894 | None recorded | 22.4 percent here, 77.6 percent Pierce County |
| Duvall | city | 8,526 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| North Bend | city | 7,953 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Pacific | city | 7,066 | 13 | 75.1 percent here, 24.9 percent Pierce County |
| Normandy Park | city | 6,659 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Hobart | CDP | 6,552 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Black Diamond | city | 5,961 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Boulevard Park | CDP | 4,575 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maple Heights-Lake Desire | CDP | 4,113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mirrormont | CDP | 4,019 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Holm | CDP | 3,555 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Algona | city | 3,247 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Clyde Hill | city | 3,119 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Medina | city | 2,928 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shadow Lake | CDP | 2,465 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carnation | city | 2,366 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Riverbend | CDP | 1,748 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fall City | CDP | 1,618 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Wilderness Rim | CDP | 1,560 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Marcel-Stillwater | CDP | 1,549 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ames Lake | CDP | 1,245 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Yarrow Point | town | 1,198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Riverpoint | CDP | 831 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hunts Point | town | 289 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beaux Arts Village | town | 233 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Ravensdale | CDP | 198 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Baring | CDP | 177 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Skykomish | town | 92 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 30 of the county's 3,575 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in King County, the largest being Olympia (3), Bonney Lake (3), Edmonds (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby