Map the Block › Places › Washington › King County
What are the crime rate and median income in King County, Washington?
King County averaged 4.3 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 28% higher than the Washington rate (3.4). Households here have a median income of $124,746 and the unemployment rate was 4.7% in August 2026. About 2,287,171 people live in the county.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in King County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 10,004 violent and 88,056 property crimes per year. The violent rate, 4.3 per 1,000 people, is 28% higher than the Washington rate (3.4); nationally it is 3.7. Property crime ran at 38.1 per 1,000, against 27.5 statewide. Most violent crimes here are aggravated assaults (60%). CDC death records show about 85 homicide deaths a year in the county (3.8 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | King County | Per 1,000 | Washington per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 10,004 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 121 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 911 | 0.39 | 0.40 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 2,946 | 1.3 | 0.72 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 6,026 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 88,056 | 38.1 | 27.5 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 15,808 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 54,386 | 23.5 | 18.0 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 17,862 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (38 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in King County?
The median household in King County earns $124,746 a year, 27% higher than the Washington median ($98,141). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $859,900 by its owners; renters pay a median $2,092. 8.2% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 11.5%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.7% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 63,563 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | King County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,287,171 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $124,746 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $859,900 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $2,092 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.9% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 8.2% | 11.5% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 56.7% | 39.6% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 55.4% | 63.8% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.3 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 95.1% | 93.6% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 5.2% | 6.3% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in King County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, King County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. The hazards rated highest here are river flooding (Very High), earthquakes (Very High) and heat waves (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
10 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in King County: Lower Duwamish Waterway, Pacific Sound Resources, Pacific Car & Foundry Co., Western Processing Co., Inc., Queen City Farms, Midway Landfill, plus 4 more. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
King County has 63 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. 2 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 58 Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Mud Mountain Dam (425 ft) and Howard A. Hanson Dam (235 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
60 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 754,525 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
King County was covered by 3 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Flood 2, Severe Storm 1), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 3 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 156 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 3 (low). NHTSA counted 152 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 51 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in King County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 75 highway work zones in King County (69 active that day). Roads listed: 005, 090 and 405. 33 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in King County?
King County has 538 public schools (2024-25) and 225 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 47 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 152 fire or EMS stations and 39 police or sheriff stations. 11 state parks or recreation areas: Auburn State Park, Dash Point, Flaming Geyser, Iron Horse and Kanaskat-Palmer and 6 more.
What tribal lands and sacred sites are in King County?
Census tribal areas that reach into King County: Puyallup Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Muckleshoot Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land and Snoqualmie Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land. 1 ancient or sacred site is on the map here: North Wind's Weir. Many are sacred to living communities, so visit respectfully and follow posted rules.
Tribal areas are Census statistical boundaries, shown for reference; they are not legal boundaries.
See them on the map: tribal lands · sacred sites →
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in King County
Gun shops
44 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in King County (38 from the ATF licensee list, 6 from OpenStreetMap), plus 49 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 18 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Bellevue Gun Club INC (Bellevue), Big 5 Sporting Goods #174 (Seattle), Big 5 Sporting Goods #242 (Seattle), Big 5 Sporting Goods #425 (Renton), Big 5 Sporting Goods #435 (Covington), Big 5 Sporting Goods #488 (Redmond), Big 5 Sporting Goods #80 (Seattle), Big 5 Sporting Goods #81 (Seattle) and 30 more.
Liquor stores
43 liquor stores are on the map in King County: Agave Cocina & Tequilas (Issaquah), Agave Cocina & Tequilas (Seattle), Auburn Liquor & Wine (Auburn), Auburn Spirits (Auburn), Ballard Liquor & Convenience Store (Seattle), Bevmo! + Gopuff (Bellevue), Bevmo! + Gopuff (Issaquah), Bevmo! + Gopuff (Seattle) and 35 more.
Planned Parenthood
6 Planned Parenthood health centers are on the map in King County: Planned Parenthood (Seattle), Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands – Eastside-Bellevue Health Center (Bellevue), Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands-Central District Health Center (Seattle), Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands-Federal Way Health Center (Federal Way), Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands-Northgate Health Center (Seattle) and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands-White Center Health Center (Seattle).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in King County?
King County averaged 10,004 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 4.3 per 1,000 residents, 28% higher than the Washington rate (3.4). The property-crime rate was 38.1 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in King County?
$124,746 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $98,141 for Washington and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in King County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.7% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 63,563 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect King County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, King County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. The hazards rated highest here are river flooding (Very High), earthquakes (Very High) and heat waves (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in King County?
10 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in King County: Lower Duwamish Waterway, Pacific Sound Resources, Pacific Car & Foundry Co., Western Processing Co., Inc., Queen City Farms, Midway Landfill, plus 4 more.
Is there road construction in King County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 75 highway work zones in King County (69 active that day). Roads listed: 005, 090 and 405. 33 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in King County?
47 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does King County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelan County | 80,172 | 1.6 | $82,381 |
| Kitsap County | 277,881 | 2.8 | $104,158 |
| Kittitas County | 47,172 | 1.5 | $73,804 |
| Pierce County | 930,319 | 5.8 | $99,564 |
| Snohomish County | 844,430 | 1.9 | $111,246 |
| Yakima County | 257,152 | 3.5 | $70,656 |
Cities in King County with their own page: Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Kirkland, Auburn, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Burien.
More: Washington statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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