King County vs Pierce County, WA: growth, jobs and income compared
King County is growing faster than Pierce County: +1.2% vs +0.7% between 2024 and 2025. King County gained 26,980 residents and Pierce County gained 6,502 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).
Data as of 2025 · updated
Side by side
| Measure | King County | Pierce County |
|---|---|---|
| Population2025 | 2,344,939 Larger | 946,288 |
| Population change2020–25 | +3.1% Higher | +2.5% |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | −3.9 | 1.2 Higher |
| Private-sector job growth2018–23 | +4.5% | +11.1% Higher |
| Median household income2020–24 | $124,746 Higher | $99,564 |
| Unemployment rate2025 | 4.5% Lower | 5.0% |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | 3.6 | 4.0 Higher |
The tag marks the stronger figure in each row: the higher one, or the lower one for the unemployment rate ("Larger" is only the head count). Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
The two counties share a border, and both are part of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area.
Each county in full
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Questions
Is King County or Pierce County growing faster?
King County is growing faster than Pierce County: +1.2% vs +0.7% between 2024 and 2025. King County gained 26,980 residents and Pierce County gained 6,502 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).
Which has the higher median household income, King County or Pierce County?
King County: $124,746, against $99,564 in Pierce County (American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24).
Which has the lower unemployment rate, King County or Pierce County?
King County: 4.5%, against 5.0% in Pierce County (2025 annual average, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).
Where they rank in the state
- Washington counties by population growth
- Washington counties by net domestic migration per 1,000 residents
- Washington counties by private-sector job growth
- Washington counties by median household income
- Washington counties by lowest unemployment rate
- Washington counties by new homes permitted per 1,000 residents
More comparisons
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.