Seattle, Washington
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Seattle, WA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Seattle, WA?
Seattle planning snapshot: population 780,995, housing index 224 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $912,100, median rent $1,998, and income near $121,984. Expect 75°F summer highs, 37°F winter lows, and about 30-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 585.4 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 224U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $912,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,998U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $121,984U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 30 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 585.4per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 75°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Seattle compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 780,995City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $121,984Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year55% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 224ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year124% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $912,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year201% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,998City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year48% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20260.7 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 30 min20% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 7464% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 585.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)Near catalog avg (559.5)Catalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4495.6per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)50% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 75°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 37°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 211As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Seattle grew 27.9% from 610,630 in 2010 to 780,995 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Seattle, WA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Seattle's housing cost index is 224 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($912,100 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,998 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 224 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $912,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,998 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Seattle, WA?
Typical ownership costs center near $912,100, while median gross rent is about $1,998 a month. Against a median household income of $121,984, rent alone is roughly 20% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $912,100
- Median rent $1,998/month
- Median household income $121,984
What is the job market like in Seattle, WA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Seattle is about $121,984 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $121,984
How long is the typical commute in Seattle, WA?
Average one-way commute time is about 30 minutes, with Walk Score near 74/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 30 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 74/100
Is Seattle, WA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 585.4 per 100k and property about 4495.6 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 585.4 per 100k
- Property 4495.6 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Seattle, WA?
Normals show summer highs near 75°F, winter lows near 37°F, about 36.5 inches of rain, and roughly 211 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 75°F
- Winter low 37°F
- 36.5 in rain · 211 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Seattle, WA?
Newcomers often start with Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Capitol Hill
- Ballard
- Fremont
What nearby city comparisons involve Seattle?
These curated pair pages put Seattle beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Gray winters west of the Cascades and dry inland basins split lifestyles. Expect summer highs near 75°F and winter lows around 37°F. Average one-way commute time is about 30 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 74/100. Labor-market readings near 4.9% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 585.4 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Seattle, Washington counts about 780,995 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $121,984 and a cost index of 224, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $912,100 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Ask locals about Capitol Hill versus Ballard — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with Fremont as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Seattle with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Capitol Hill
- Ballard
- Fremont
- Queen Anne
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Seattle city, 1600000US5363000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · King County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00024234 SEATTLE BOEING FLD) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19