Washington
Population7.7m
Counties39county-level areas on the 2024 Census map
Density45.0people per km² of land
Median household income$94,95287th percentile of states
How it has changed
The state’s own figures from 2010 to 2024. A measure published for only one year shows as a single point instead of a line.
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The state figure, and the range across its counties
The state figure is the one its own agency publishes. It is never an average of the counties. You cannot average medians (middle values) to get a new median, and a rate has to be worked out again from the added-up counts. The county range next to it shows what a single state number has to hide.
Sometimes fewer counties report than the state has. The missing ones were held back because their counts were too small to publish — mostly deaths. A range from only part of the state is not the state’s full range. It can even sit entirely above or below the state figure. So the number of counties reporting is shown next to it.
You can sort by any column. 47 of these 185 measures have a clear better end, and those are ranked best first. For example, the lowest infant death rate is first place, and so is the highest life expectancy. The rest have no better end, so they are ranked highest first, and the cell says “highest” instead of “best”. A state is not winning or losing by how much of its tax comes from severance taxes (taxes on oil, gas and minerals taken from the ground).
| Alcohol-involved share of driving deaths | 0.32% | 35th best of 51 | 0% | 0.35% | 0.667% | 36 |
| Always wears a seatbelt | 97.1 | 2nd best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Arrivals per 100 people staying | 3.28 | 23rd highest of 51 | 2.67 | 6.7 | 10.5 | 39 |
| Arrivals per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | 2.26 | 30th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Arthritis | 23.9 | 12th best of 46 | — | — | — | — |
| Binge drinking | 16.8 | 24th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 50 | 52.5 | 25th highest of 52 | 21.2 | 56.8 | 96.8 | 33 |
| Black Protestant adherents | 0.39 | 36th highest of 51 | 0 | 0 | 0.82 | 39 |
| Black-white residential segregation | 59.8 | 33rd highest of 51 | 42.8 | 63.9 | 85.9 | 27 |
| Business closing rate | 10.3 | 6th highest of 51 | 5.66 | 10.4 | 18.7 | 39 |
| Business opening rate | 10.9 | 13th highest of 51 | 7.58 | 11 | 17.6 | 39 |
| Catholic adherents | 10.7 | 37th highest of 51 | 2.23 | 8.19 | 27.5 | 39 |
| Checkup in the past year | 70 | 47th highest of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Child mortality | 42.9 | 10th best of 51 | 28.8 | 45.1 | 66 | 26 |
| Child poverty rate, ages 0-17 | 12.1% | 12th best of 51 | 8.4% | 16.3% | 29.1% | 39 |
| Children in single-parent households | 0.192% | 45th highest of 51 | 0.161% | 0.211% | 0.281% | 36 |
| Congregations per 10,000 people | 8.04 | 41st highest of 51 | 6.4 | 11.6 | 30.4 | 39 |
| Current asthma | 10.7 | 26th best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Current smoking | 9.84 | 4th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Departures per 100 people staying | 3.32 | 19th highest of 51 | 3.26 | 6.03 | 11.1 | 39 |
| Departures per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | 2.83 | 13th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Depression | 24.4 | 36th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Diabetes | 11.6 | 9th best of 45 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty concentrating or deciding | 13.9 | 23rd best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty running errands alone | 6.16 | 9th best of 46 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12 | 3rd best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Disability-free score | 0.385 | 11th highest of 47 | -1.16 | 0.543 | 1.78 | 39 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 29 | 22nd best of 51 | 11 | 29.4 | 47.9 | 29 |
| Effective general sales tax rate | 4.69 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Effective individual income tax rate | 0.133 | 44th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.839 | 24th highest of 52 | 0.569 | 0.786 | 0.94 | 39 |
| Effective property tax rate on income | 2.47 | 33rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Evangelical Protestant adherents | 20.4 | 13th highest of 51 | 4.73 | 15.6 | 46.4 | 39 |
| Fair or poor health | 16.1 | 13th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Fine particulate matter | 10.3 | 49th best of 51 | 5.6 | 10.3 | 16 | 39 |
| Firearm fatalities | 11.6 | 12th best of 51 | 7.86 | 13.3 | 34.5 | 31 |
| Firearm share of suicides, standardised | 97.9 | 34th highest of 51 | 77.7 | 105 | 136 | 34 |
| Firearm suicide rate | 8.3 | 32nd highest of 51 | 4.63 | 10.7 | 28.7 | 34 |
| Flu vaccination among Medicare enrollees | 0.46% | 33rd best of 51 | 0.11% | 0.42% | 0.55% | 39 |
| Gini index of income inequality | 0.466 | 26th best of 52 | 0.406 | 0.441 | 0.531 | 39 |
| Has health insurance | 92.3 | 22nd highest of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Health score | 0.492 | 12th highest of 49 | -0.668 | 0.406 | 1.37 | 39 |
| High blood pressure | 30.9 | 10th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| High cholesterol | 34.4 | 24th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| High school graduation | 0.836% | 36th best of 48 | 0.616% | 0.825% | 0.89% | 33 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.9% | 41st highest of 52 | 46.6% | 70.6% | 84.8% | 39 |
| Homicide rate | 3.85 | 18th best of 51 | 2.27 | 3.78 | 11.3 | 20 |
| Homicide rate, annual | 5.3 | 29th highest of 51 | 3.68 | 5.11 | 15.2 | 9 |
| How much faster the top bracket arrives than everyone else | -0.538 | 47th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Income gap between arrivals and departures | $-11,079 | 46th highest of 51 | $-30,010 | $8,006 | $30,090 | 39 |
| Infant mortality | 4.32 | 7th best of 51 | 3.44 | 4.46 | 7.02 | 19 |
| Injury deaths | 78.9 | 15th best of 51 | 52.5 | 84.2 | 151 | 38 |
| Life expectancy | 78.8 years | 10th best of 51 | 72.9 years | 77.8 years | 87.4 years | 39 |
| Mainline Protestant adherents | 2.59 | 44th highest of 51 | 0.48 | 2.6 | 13 | 39 |
| Material security score | 0.598 | 14th highest of 51 | -0.893 | 0.421 | 1.06 | 38 |
| Mean adjusted gross income per return | $114,940 | 4th best of 51 | $61,300 | $80,170 | $164,500 | 39 |
| Mean income of arriving households | $90,288 | 8th highest of 51 | $46,850 | $68,630 | $122,900 | 39 |
| Mean income of departing households | $101,370 | 8th highest of 51 | $45,620 | $65,350 | $133,000 | 39 |
| Mean travel time to work | 27 min | 41st best of 52 | 14.9 min | 23.5 min | 42.3 min | 39 |
| Median age | 38.2 years | 37th highest of 52 | 26.1 years | 41.9 years | 59.5 years | 39 |
| Median gross rent | $1,682 | 6th highest of 52 | $703 | $1,119 | $2,035 | 39 |
| Median home value | $519,800 | 5th highest of 52 | $214,200 | $370,500 | $811,200 | 39 |
| Median household income | $94,952 | 8th best of 52 | $52,890 | $71,530 | $122,100 | 39 |
| Median household income (model-based) | $94,553 | 8th best of 51 | $57,090 | $71,370 | $120,700 | 39 |
| Median property tax bill | 4,361 | 10th highest of 52 | 1,306 | 2,860 | 6,785 | 39 |
| Meets aerobic guidelines | 65.9 | 7th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Membership organisations | 8.25 | 40th best of 51 | 3.21 | 8.61 | 17.2 | 39 |
| Millionaire returns as a share of all returns | 0.618 | 8th highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Millionaires' share of all income | 14 | 21st highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Motor vehicle crash deaths | 8.78 | 10th best of 51 | 5.54 | 10.7 | 32.1 | 35 |
| Net business formation rate | 0.519 | 39th highest of 51 | -8 | 1.07 | 7.64 | 39 |
| Net domestic migration rate | -2.22 | 40th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Net migration per 100 people staying | -0.0385 | 28th highest of 51 | -1.3 | 0.583 | 3.02 | 39 |
| Net migration per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | -0.57 | 40th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Obesity | 30.8 | 12th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Orthodox Christian adherents | 0.33 | 18th highest of 51 | 0 | 0 | 0.76 | 39 |
| Other religion adherents | 6.77 | 12th highest of 51 | 0.04 | 5.8 | 13.3 | 39 |
| People per tax return | 2 | 26th highest of 51 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 39 |
| Per capita income | $51,493 | 6th best of 52 | $25,930 | $40,040 | $71,060 | 39 |
| Per capita personal income | $81,087 | 8th best of 51 | $47,290 | $57,260 | $122,700 | 39 |
| Poverty rate | 9.91% | 7th best of 52 | 6.98% | 12.4% | 23.7% | 38 |
| Poverty rate (model-based) | 10.3% | 14th best of 51 | 7.5% | 12% | 24.8% | 39 |
| Premature mortality | 337 | 11th best of 51 | 168 | 371 | 559 | 39 |
| Preventable hospital stays | 1,842 | 7th best of 51 | 847 | 1,800 | 2,667 | 39 |
| Private job growth | 1.6 | 41st highest of 52 | -6.81 | 1.12 | 29.9 | 37 |
| Religious adherents | 41.3 | 41st highest of 51 | 19.9 | 36.7 | 66 | 39 |
| Republican share of the two-party vote, 2024 | 40.5 | 45th highest of 51 | 23.3 | 54.9 | 75.9 | 39 |
| Returns claiming charitable contributions | 8.33% | 10th highest of 51 | 0% | 5.05% | 11.8% | 39 |
| Returns claiming the earned income credit | 9.82% | 49th highest of 51 | 7.15% | 11.7% | 19.8% | 39 |
| Returns reporting capital gains | 23.4% | 2nd highest of 51 | 8.71% | 18.8% | 35.4% | 39 |
| Returns reporting unemployment compensation | 5.55% | 5th highest of 51 | 2.36% | 5.27% | 9.77% | 39 |
| Safety score | 0.756 | 2nd highest of 51 | -1.15 | 0.316 | 1.11 | 31 |
| Share aged 65 and over | 16.3% | 42nd highest of 52 | 10.1% | 21.2% | 39.6% | 39 |
| Share American Indian or Alaska Native, not Hispanic | 0.819% | 10th highest of 51 | 0% | 0.821% | 13% | 33 |
| Share Asian, not Hispanic | 9.31% | 4th highest of 52 | 0.486% | 1.53% | 19.8% | 33 |
| Share Black, not Hispanic | 3.82% | 35th highest of 52 | 0.462% | 1.53% | 6.78% | 26 |
| Share divorced | 11.3% | 26th highest of 52 | 7.64% | 11.8% | 18.7% | 39 |
| Share foreign-born | 15.1% | 11th highest of 52 | 1.99% | 7.48% | 25.1% | 37 |
| Share Hispanic or Latino, any race | 14.1% | 16th highest of 52 | 3.28% | 10.3% | 64.1% | 38 |
| Share in the same house a year ago | 84% | 46th highest of 51 | 71.6% | 86.8% | 94.1% | 39 |
| Share Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, not Hispanic | 0.68% | 4th highest of 49 | 0% | 0.277% | 1.49% | 22 |
| Share never married | 32.2% | 33rd highest of 52 | 13.8% | 28.1% | 52.5% | 39 |
| Share now married | 51.9% | 10th highest of 52 | 36.8% | 53.5% | 68.1% | 39 |
| Share of births to unmarried women | 23.4% | 48th highest of 52 | 0% | 29.4% | 69.1% | 24 |
| Share of some other race, not Hispanic | 0.546% | 12th highest of 52 | 0% | 0.565% | 0.982% | 14 |
| Share of suicides by firearm | 51.2% | 37th highest of 51 | 41.3% | 55.5% | 73.8% | 34 |
| Share of taxes from alcohol | 0.809 | 9th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from corporate income | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from corporation licences | 0.093 | 29th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from death and gift | 1.41 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from gambling | 0.151 | 28th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from general sales and gross receipts | 49.3 | 1st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from individual income | 1.4 | 44th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from insurance premiums | 1.4 | 27th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from licences | 5.3 | 14th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from motor fuel | 2.59 | 26th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from motor vehicle licences | 1.85 | 16th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from occupation and business licences | 1.33 | 16th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from other taxes | 5.61 | 8th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from property | 26 | 30th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from property transfer | 3.28 | 4th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from public utilities | 3.03 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from selective sales | 12.4 | 19th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from severance | 0.0986 | 20th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from sports betting and pari-mutuels | 0.00181 | 40th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from tobacco | 0.543 | 38th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.47% | 4th highest of 52 | 2.04% | 5.65% | 9.09% | 38 |
| Share separated | 1.38% | 30th highest of 52 | 0% | 1.45% | 2.96% | 36 |
| Share White, not Hispanic | 64.3% | 28th highest of 52 | 32.1% | 76.1% | 89.5% | 39 |
| Share widowed | 4.61% | 48th highest of 52 | 2.96% | 5.8% | 9.08% | 39 |
| Share with a bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 12th best of 52 | 15.4% | 28.1% | 55.9% | 39 |
| State income tax as a share of income | 0.133 | 43rd highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| State taxes as a share of income | 5.97 | 32nd highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Suicide rate | 15.4 | 25th best of 51 | 9.29 | 17.4 | 36.7 | 32 |
| Top state income tax rate | 0% | 50th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Total tax burden | 9.51 | 28th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Two weeks of poor mental health | 16.9 | 32nd best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Two weeks of poor physical health | 12.2 | 18th best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Unemployment rate | 4.21% | 44th best of 52 | 3.3% | 4.6% | 7.1% | 39 |
| Vacancy rate | 7.42% | 52nd highest of 52 | 3.84% | 10.3% | 36% | 39 |
| Went without care over cost | 10.3 | 17th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Years of potential life lost | 6,781 | 11th best of 51 | 3,315 | 7,855 | 13,770 | 37 |
| Aggregate travel time to work | 83,194,000 min | 14th highest of 52 | 17,140 min | 512,600 min | 25,320,000 min | 39 |
| Business establishments | 179,030 | 13th highest of 51 | 36 | 1,358 | 62,360 | 39 |
| Business establishments closed | 18,452 | 11th highest of 51 | 7 | 141 | 6,491 | 39 |
| Business establishments opened | 19,378 | 12th highest of 51 | 4 | 137 | 6,472 | 39 |
| Employed | 3,857,900 | 13th highest of 52 | 804 | 27,480 | 1,306,000 | 39 |
| Foreign-born population | 1,170,700 | 9th highest of 52 | 170 | 4,783 | 568,300 | 37 |
| Gross domestic product | $801,460,000k | 10th highest of 51 | $132,400k | $3,548,000k | $442,100,000k | 39 |
| Housing units | 3,262,700 | 13th highest of 52 | 1,223 | 30,490 | 988,300 | 39 |
| Labour force | 4,027,300 | 13th highest of 52 | 844 | 29,190 | 1,359,000 | 39 |
| Millionaire tax returns | 23,370 | 9th highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Net domestic migration | -17,293 | 42nd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Occupied housing units | 3,020,600 | 13th highest of 52 | 1,052 | 25,370 | 927,800 | 39 |
| Owner-occupied housing units | 1,929,700 | 13th highest of 52 | 809 | 19,520 | 520,400 | 39 |
| People covered by a tax return | 6,980,000 | 13th highest of 51 | 1,860 | 57,710 | 2,038,000 | 39 |
| People in households earning $200,000 or more who did not move | 1,031,500 | 10th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| People who did not move | 6,052,500 | 13th highest of 51 | 1,628 | 48,860 | 1,775,000 | 39 |
| Personal income | $637,130,000k | 12th highest of 51 | $133,800k | $3,722,000k | $281,700,000k | 39 |
| Population | 7,857,300 | 13th highest of 51 | 2,360 | 68,750 | 2,297,000 | 39 |
| Population | 7,812,900 | 13th highest of 51 | 2,363 | 68,390 | 2,271,000 | 39 |
| Population (firearm measures) | 7,167,800 | 13th highest of 51 | 6,858 | 73,630 | 2,116,000 | 34 |
| Population (WONDER) | 7,812,900 | 13th highest of 51 | 215,200 | 521,200 | 2,271,000 | 9 |
| Population aged 15 and over | 6,350,900 | 13th highest of 52 | 2,019 | 56,080 | 1,890,000 | 39 |
| Population aged 25 and over | 5,409,100 | 13th highest of 52 | 1,752 | 49,330 | 1,634,000 | 39 |
| Population aged 65 and over | 1,259,300 | 14th highest of 52 | 689 | 13,180 | 311,400 | 39 |
| Population below the poverty line | 753,460 | 20th highest of 52 | 357 | 8,026 | 187,000 | 38 |
| Population below the poverty line | 793,260 | 17th highest of 51 | 331 | 8,086 | 197,700 | 39 |
| Population for whom poverty status is determined | 7,606,300 | 13th highest of 52 | 2,292 | 65,300 | 2,232,000 | 39 |
| Population for whom poverty status is determined | 7,701,600 | 13th highest of 51 | 2,348 | 66,280 | 2,247,000 | 39 |
| Population in the same house one year ago | 6,503,100 | 13th highest of 51 | 2,039 | 58,390 | 1,858,000 | 39 |
| Population with a bachelor's degree or higher | 2,097,200 | 14th highest of 52 | 469 | 11,640 | 914,200 | 39 |
| Population, decennial census | 7,705,300 | 13th highest of 51 | 2,286 | 65,730 | 2,270,000 | 39 |
| Presidential votes cast, 2024 | 3,924,200 | 13th highest of 51 | 1,352 | 31,900 | 1,131,000 | 39 |
| Private jobs | 3,003,100 | 14th highest of 52 | 846 | 16,570 | 1,283,000 | 37 |
| State and local tax collections | $60,601,000k | 11th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| State individual income tax collected | $846,840k | 41st highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| State tax collected, all taxes | $38,025,000k | 12th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Tax returns filed | 3,781,800 | 13th highest of 51 | 960 | 30,960 | 1,159,000 | 39 |
| Total population | 7,741,000 | 13th highest of 52 | 2,326 | 66,970 | 2,263,000 | 39 |
| Unemployed | 169,440 | 12th highest of 52 | 40 | 1,294 | 53,170 | 39 |
| Vacant housing units | 242,110 | 23rd highest of 52 | 171 | 4,725 | 60,510 | 39 |
| Women aged 15 to 50 | 1,823,600 | 13th highest of 52 | 416 | 13,810 | 579,200 | 39 |
| Women who gave birth in the past year | 95,720 | 13th highest of 52 | 49 | 949 | 26,040 | 33 |
| Workers aged 16 and over who commute | 3,086,600 | 13th highest of 52 | 735 | 24,560 | 899,700 | 39 |
Links inside Washington
These are the site’s strongest pairs nationwide, worked out again using only this state’s counties. The r column shows how closely two measures rise and fall together, from −1 (opposite) to +1 (in step); 0 means no link. A link that shows up nationally but disappears inside every state is really about differences between states. A link that also holds here is not.
These figures are before adjusting for anything. Unlike the national figures, they do not take out population density, income or education.
| Pair | r within WA | counties |
|---|---|---|
| Median age × Share aged 65 and overInside Washington, where Median age is higher, Share aged 65 and over tends to be higher: a strong link across 39 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.97 | 39 |
| Self-care disability × Material security scoreInside Washington, where Self-care disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a moderate link across 38 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.56 | 38 |
| Stroke × Material security scoreInside Washington, where Stroke is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a moderate link across 38 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.64 | 38 |
| Vision disability × Material security scoreInside Washington, where Vision disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a moderate link across 38 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.47 | 38 |
| Self-care disability × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Washington, where Self-care disability is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 39 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.87 | 39 |
| Vision disability × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Washington, where Vision disability is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 39 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.84 | 39 |
| Fair or poor self-rated health × Material security scoreInside Washington, where Fair or poor self-rated health is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a moderate link across 38 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.44 | 38 |
| Independent-living disability × Material security scoreInside Washington, where Independent-living disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a moderate link across 38 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.61 | 38 |
What this state is divided into
39 county-level areas, largest first. Each one is compared with its peers — the counties across the country most like it — not with the rest of this state.
King County · Pierce County · Snohomish County · Spokane County · Clark County · Thurston County · Kitsap County · Yakima County · Whatcom County · Benton County · Skagit County · Cowlitz County · Grant County · Franklin County · Island County · Lewis County · Chelan County · Clallam County · Grays Harbor County · Mason County · Walla Walla County · Stevens County · Whitman County · Kittitas County · Douglas County · Okanogan County · Jefferson County · Pacific County · Klickitat County · Asotin County · Adams County · San Juan County · Pend Oreille County · Skamania County · Lincoln County · Ferry County · Wahkiakum County · Columbia County · Garfield County