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Living in
Cottage Lake.
Cottage Lake is an unincorporated community in King County, WA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Cottage Lake
Cottage Lake is a community of 23,170 people in Washington. The median household income is $213,106, median rent runs about $2,740 per month, and median home values are around $1,231,000. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Cottage Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
17.1%
Broadband Internet
98.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Cottage Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cottage Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from India (14.3%), and 4.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
9.7%
of households
Married Couples
78.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
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 56% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Cottage Lake
In Cottage Lake, rent runs 56% above the WA average, and home values are 118% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
91.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Cottage Lake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in King County, which includes Cottage Lake, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Cottage Lake: King County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
King County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Cottage Lake is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Cottage Lake 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
Commute25.9 min avg
How Cottage Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cottage Lake, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 23 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.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the King County Sheriff's Office, which covers Cottage Lake, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
984.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by King County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Cottage Lake, 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.
27 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Cottage Lake is less than 1% 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 Cottage Lake, 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
Cottage Lake is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate72°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cottage Lake has mild summers (avg high 72°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
72°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.8"
Annual Snowfall
3.0"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
60
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
187
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 32°F | 6.54" |
| Feb | 48°F | 32°F | 4.47" |
| Mar | 52°F | 35°F | 5.22" |
| Apr | 57°F | 39°F | 4.30" |
| May | 64°F | 44°F | 3.42" |
| Jun | 68°F | 49°F | 2.69" |
| Jul | 74°F | 52°F | 1.15" |
| Aug | 75°F | 52°F | 1.30" |
| Sep | 69°F | 48°F | 2.73" |
| Oct | 58°F | 41°F | 5.03" |
| Nov | 49°F | 35°F | 7.16" |
| Dec | 43°F | 32°F | 6.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cottage Lake
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cottage Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Evergreenhealth Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Kirkland
Bhc Fairfax Hospital
Psychiatric · 6 mi away · Kirkland
Evergreenhealth Monroe
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Monroe
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.
Education17.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cottage Lake
Cottage Lake's student/teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 67.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Cottage Lake (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
12 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)
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
5.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,457 students · in-state tuition $13,472 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (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 · 3,656 students · in-state tuition $4,953 · 42% graduate · median earnings $54,434 (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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cottage Lake
Cottage Lake has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
15 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
43 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
63 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
70 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
74 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cottage Lake
Woodinville Library
17105 Avondale Road Ne, Woodinville
Cities Near Cottage Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cottage Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cottage Lake FAQ
Is Cottage Lake, Washington affordable?⌄
Cottage Lake's median rent is $2,740/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $213,106/year. Median home value is $1,230,700.
Is Cottage Lake, Washington safe?⌄
Cottage Lake is policed by the King County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 985 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cottage Lake, Washington?⌄
King County, which includes Cottage Lake, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cottage Lake, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Cottage Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,740/month and median household income is $213,106/year. The median home value is $1,230,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cottage Lake, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Cottage Lake is 26 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