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Living in
Burien.
About
Life in Burien
Burien works well if you want suburban living without being too far from Seattle—your average commute runs about 27 minutes, and you've got solid public transit connections through King County Metro and Sound Transit, including direct bus service to the airport and downtown Seattle. Housing costs are steep like much of the Seattle area, with median home prices around $639,000 and rent averaging $1,782 monthly, though your median household income of $90,600 puts many residents in a reasonable position to manage it. The community is genuinely diverse with a significant Latino population and representation across Asian, African American, and other backgrounds, creating a multicultural neighborhood feel rather than a homogeneous suburb.
Burien at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
26.1%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics26.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Burien: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Burien, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.6%), and 17.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.8%
of households
Married Couples
42.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.59
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Burien
In Burien, home values are 13% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,004
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $625,141 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Burien and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Burien is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Burien Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute26.7 min avg
How Burien residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Burien, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Burien is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
341.9
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,483.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Burien Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Burien, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Burien is about 2% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Burien, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Burien is about 2% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Burien has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
156
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 38°F | 5.78" |
| Feb | 50°F | 38°F | 3.76" |
| Mar | 54°F | 40°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 3.18" |
| May | 66°F | 49°F | 1.88" |
| Jun | 71°F | 53°F | 1.45" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.60" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.97" |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 1.61" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 3.91" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 6.31" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 5.72" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Burien
Burien has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Highline Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Navos - Inpatient Services
Psychiatric · 4.2 mi away · Seattle
Seattle VA Medical Center (va Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Seattle
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Renton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Burien
Burien's student/teacher ratio is 18.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Burien (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
12.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,942 students · in-state tuition $13,406 · 85% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,364 students · in-state tuition $4,580 · 48% graduate · median earnings $63,508 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,062 students · in-state tuition $58,965 · 74% graduate · median earnings $84,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,953 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 42% graduate · median earnings $48,906 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Burien
Burien has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
9 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
52 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
53 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
66 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Burien
Boulevard Park Library
12015 Roseberg Avenue S, Seattle
Burien Library
400 Sw 152nd Street, Burien
White Center Library
11220 16th Avenue Sw, Seattle
Cities Near Burien
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Burien?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Burien FAQ
Is Burien, Washington affordable?⌄
Burien's median rent is $1,782/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,318/year. Median home value is $638,800.
Is Burien, Washington safe?⌄
Burien's violent crime rate was 342 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2484 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Burien, Washington?⌄
Burien has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Burien, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Burien is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,782/month and median household income is $91,318/year. The median home value is $638,800. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Burien, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Burien is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from