Department of Numbers

Housing Units, Population and Cost Rank Measures for Washington

Here we explore the evolution and dynamics of the housing supply in Washington, the relative cost of Washington housing, the housing mix and the change in Washington population. Housing supply here is defined as the number of housing units (i.e: houses, condos, apartments etc..). For this analysis, the Washington population number we're most interested in is the 18 and over population since the under 18 population typically isn't a buyer or renter in the housing market. All data on this page comes from the Census ACS 1 year survey. Jump to Washington sections: housing units, housing cost, housing mix, population.

Housing Units and 18+ Population for Washington

The data below track the total number of housing units in Washington, the total 18 and over population in Washington and the ratio of the 18 and over Washington population to the number of housing units. Over the past 5 years, the number of Washington housing units increased by 7.82% while the 18 and over population increased by 9.03%. As a result, the ratio of the 18 and over population to housing units increased from 1.842 to 1.863. A lower population to housing units ratio means there are more housing units available per person in the region.

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Washington Housing Units 3,195,098 +1.49% +7.82%
Washington 18+ Population 5,951,928 +1.33% +9.03%
Washington 18+ Pop. / Units 1.863 -0.003 +0.021

Washington 18+ Population to Units Ratio Trends: Washington, US

Washington Housing Units and 18+ Population History

Date Washington Housing Units Washington 18+ Population Washington 18+ Pop. / Units
2019 3,195,098 5,951,928 1.863
2018 3,148,084 5,873,652 1.866
2017 3,103,263 5,759,010 1.856
2016 3,025,802 5,658,939 1.870
2015 2,991,584 5,558,381 1.858
2014 2,963,293 5,458,877 1.842
2013 2,928,300 5,375,222 1.836
2012 2,914,775 5,311,983 1.822
2011 2,907,605 5,249,796 1.806
2010 2,888,594 5,160,913 1.787
2009 2,814,297 5,093,008 1.810
2008 2,791,765 5,006,164 1.793

more history ...

Washington Relative Housing Cost Percentile by Price and Rent

This data shows where Washington falls in the distribution of home prices and rent compared to other states (and D.C.). The higher the percentile, the more expensive the region is compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, Washington was at the 90.20% percentile for home prices and the 86.27% percentile for the cost of rent. Over the past 5 years, Washington home prices have become more expensive compared to the rest of the country and rent in Washington has become more expensive over the past 5 years relative to the rest of the country.

Washington Home Price and Rent Percentile

2019 1 Year Change
(delta)		 5 Year Change
(delta)
Washington Home Price Percentile 90.20% 0.00% +5.89%
Washington Rent Percentile 86.27% -3.93% +5.88%

Washington Trends in Home Price and Rent Percentile: Washington, US

Washington Home Price and Rent Percentile History

Date Washington Home Price Percentile Washington Rent Percentile
2019 90.20% 86.27%
2018 90.20% 90.20%
2017 90.20% 86.27%
2016 86.27% 80.39%
2015 86.27% 78.43%
2014 84.31% 80.39%
2013 82.35% 76.47%
2012 82.35% 76.47%
2011 84.31% 72.55%
2010 84.31% 72.55%
2009 84.31% 72.55%
2008 86.27% 72.55%

more history ...

Washington Housing Units: Owner Occupied, Renter Occupied and Vacant

The data below shows the number of housing units in Washington by type. Over the past 5 years, the number of housing units held by owner occupiers increased by 11.79% while the total number of rented units in Washington increased by 5.64%. Units that were vacant1 decreased by 7.43% over the last 5 years.

Washington Changes in Owned, Rented and Vacant Units

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Washington Owner Occ. Units 1,849,692 +1.69% +11.79%
Washington Renter Occ. Units 1,082,785 +0.58% +5.64%
Washington Vacant Units 262,621 +4.00% -7.43%

Washington Housing Share Trends: Owned, Rented and Vacant: Owned, Rented, Vacant

The chart below shows the share of each housing type in Washington as a fraction of total housing units.

Washington Owned, Rented and Vacant Units History

Date Washington Owner Occ. Units Washington Renter Occ. Units Washington Vacant Units
2019 1,849,692 1,082,785 262,621
2018 1,818,988 1,076,587 252,509
2017 1,783,549 1,056,828 262,886
2016 1,729,320 1,038,756 257,726
2015 1,703,269 1,025,304 263,011
2014 1,654,620 1,024,981 283,692
2013 1,638,028 1,006,529 283,743
2012 1,643,637 993,180 277,958
2011 1,653,712 978,909 274,984
2010 1,644,939 961,924 281,731
2009 1,645,662 913,626 255,009
2008 1,663,174 884,489 244,102

more history ...

Washington Population

This data shows the population of Washington for the under 18 category and the 18 and over category. In the last 5 years the under 18 population has increased by 3.76% while the 18 and over population has increased by 9.03%.The total population of Washington has increased by 7.84% in the last 5 years.

Changes in Washington Population

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Washington Population Under 18 1,662,965 +0.06% +3.76%
Washington Population 18+ 5,951,928 +1.33% +9.03%
Washington Total Population 7,614,893 +1.05% +7.84%

Washington Population Age Share: Under 18, 18 and Over: 18+, Under 18

Washington Population History

Date Washington Population Under 18 Washington Population 18+ Washington Total Population
2019 1,662,965 5,951,928 7,614,893
2018 1,661,939 5,873,652 7,535,591
2017 1,646,733 5,759,010 7,405,743
2016 1,629,061 5,658,939 7,288,000
2015 1,611,970 5,558,381 7,170,351
2014 1,602,653 5,458,877 7,061,530
2013 1,596,184 5,375,222 6,971,406
2012 1,585,029 5,311,983 6,897,012
2011 1,580,242 5,249,796 6,830,038
2010 1,583,583 5,160,913 6,744,496
2009 1,571,187 5,093,008 6,664,195
2008 1,543,060 5,006,164 6,549,224

more history ...

1. The Census defines a vacant unit as belonging to the following set: For rent, Rented not occupied, For sale only, Sold not occupied, For seasonal or recreational or other occasional use, For migrant workers, Other vacant. ↩

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