Pierce County, WA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 920,769 | 7,740,889 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 510.3 | 108.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.49% | 1.20% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 36.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 346,600 | 3,012,519 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Pierce County grew by 19.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 923,790 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Pierce County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $96,871 | $95,177 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.64% | 6.00% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Pierce County is about 2% higher than in Washington.
Housing
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $424,405 | $471,160 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,721 | $1,681 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.8% | 63.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Pierce County is about 20.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,721 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Pierce County spend about 54 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 226 hours, about 9.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 27.2 | 22.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 54.3 | 45.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 226 | 188 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,016 | $5,842 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 17.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 20,926 | 10,119 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,240 | 1,525 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Washington:
Columbia County (11.6 min), Walla Walla County (12.0 min), San Juan County (12.7 min).
Slowest:
Mason County (32.4 min), Wahkiakum County (30.7 min), Snohomish County (28.7 min).
The average commute time in Pierce County is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Washington.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Pierce County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 35.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.60 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.4), San Juan County (0.4), Jefferson County (0.4).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.2), Yakima County (0.2), Grant County (0.2).
Health
Pierce County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Pierce County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.5 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.1% | 15.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.8% | 16.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.8), Whitman County (0.8), San Juan County (0.8).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.8), Okanogan County (0.8), Pacific County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Pierce County, Washington.
What is the population of Pierce County, Washington?
The population of Pierce County, Washington is 920,769, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Pierce County, Washington?
The population density of Pierce County, Washington is 510.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Pierce County, Washington?
The median household income in Pierce County, Washington is $96,871, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Pierce County, Washington?
The median home price in Pierce County, Washington is $424,405, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Pierce County, Washington?
The unemployment rate in Pierce County, Washington is 4.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.