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Seattle, WA

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Seattle, WA

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 61
Population741,440
Foreign Born10.7%
Population Density8,824people per mi²
Median Age35.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

233/100

133% above national average

F

The Real Cost of Living in Seattle, Washington

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $32k$60k
Comfortable $164k$241k
Luxury $220k+$342k+
Elite (Top 5%) $283k+$439k+
Affordability Ratio

51%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

B+
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean72%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
40

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

1.3mi

Airport

SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International

12mi

Post Office

USPS — Seattle, WA

0.3mi

Critical Amenities

Golf10Nearest 2.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 8.6 mi
Marina20Nearest 0.7 mi
Winery9Nearest 1 mi
Ice Rink1Nearest 6.9 mi
Gun Range5Nearest 8.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B+
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$122k+5.1%
62% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.2M
83% above US avg
College Educated
67.5%
93% above US avg
WFH
31.3%
119% above US avg
Homeownership
44.2%
32% below US avg
Median Home
$912k
224% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
F
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 82% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
51.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−11.2%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−7.9%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents63% above state avg
Robbery
1.79 / 1k Residents271% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.63 / 1k Residents156% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−14.5%
Burglary
9.70 / 1k Residents230% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
27.00 / 1k Residents109% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
7.32 / 1k Residents215% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+39Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Seattle, Washington
Dem Rep
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.7% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (55% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season263 days346 frost-free
Annual Rainfall45.7"
Elevation151 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
F
High Risk

High tactical risk. This location is likely close to major population centers, strategic targets, or sits in a high-disaster corridor. A retreat property and careful exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor1.3 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
F
Poor8,824/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D+
Poor15 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake, Inland Flooding, Heat Wave, Avalanche, Tsunami
Border / Coast
D
Poorborder 95 mi · coast 0.0 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$1.7B/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySeattle737k people are 1.3 mi away
Nearest Major AirportSEA12 mi away
Distance to State Capital48 miOlympia, WA
Nearest Prison23 mi3 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T10:00:39.000Z

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