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University Place, WA

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University Place, WA

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 60
Population34,850
Foreign Born4.5%
Population Density4,179people per mi²
Median Age38.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

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

168/100

68% above national average

C+

The Real Cost of Living in University Place, Washington

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $27k$50k
Comfortable $112k$165k
Luxury $166k+$257k+
Elite (Top 5%) $195k+$302k+
Affordability Ratio

58%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean94%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
33
Positive
18
Poor
1
Negative
1

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.5mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Hospital

18 within 20 miles

2.5mi

Airport

SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International

19.6mi

Post Office

USPS — University Place, WA

1.7mi

Critical Amenities

Golf13Nearest 1.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 3.3 mi
Marina7Nearest 2.1 mi
Winery0Nearest 16.1 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range4Nearest 0.9 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
$95k+5.9%
26% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.4M
108% above US avg
College Educated
43.5%
24% above US avg
WFH
14.9%
4% above US avg
Homeownership
58.9%
10% below US avg
Median Home
$578k
105% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 74% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
16.4
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−24.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−12.7%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.20 / 1k Residents59% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.36 / 1k Residents25% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−36.7%
Burglary
2.04 / 1k Residents30% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
11.02 / 1k Residents15% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.62 / 1k Residents30% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+9Leans Liberal

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

Presidential Voting Trends for University Place, Washington
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%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 Season249 days341 frost-free
Annual Rainfall47.5"
Elevation417 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
D
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D
Poor29 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor4,179/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C+
Fair11 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake, Inland Flooding, Heat Wave, Cold Wave, Avalanche
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 123 mi · coast 29 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$531.9M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySeattle737k people are 29 mi away
Nearest Major AirportSEA20 mi away
Distance to State Capital21 miOlympia, WA
Nearest Prison9.6 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:15:54.000Z

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