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Living in
Covington.
About
Life in Covington
Living in Covington means joining a rapidly growing suburban community that's more about practical, family-oriented living than flash—about 40% of households have kids under 18, and the median age hovers around 37, so you're looking at a pretty established neighborhood feel. The median household income of $134,502 paired with a median home price around $637,000 tells you this is solidly upper-middle-class territory, though you're paying Seattle-area prices without being in the city proper; if you're coming from elsewhere in Washington, the cost of living reflects that King County premium. Job-wise, the economy leans heavily on retail along the State Route 516 corridor—which developed mostly in the 2000s and continues to be the commercial spine—plus a strong medical sector with MultiCare and Valley Medical Center serving the southeast King County region, so there are steady employment options if healthcare or retail work appeals to you.
Covington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Foreign-Born
15.4%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
+3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Covington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Covington, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (10.7%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.3%
of households
Married Couples
59.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.87
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 27% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Covington
In Covington, rent runs 27% above the WA average, and home values are 13% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,659
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $646,823 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Covington and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in King County, which includes Covington, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Covington: King County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
King County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Covington is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Covington 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
Commute33.4 min avg
How Covington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Covington, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 38% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Covington runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
115
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,492.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Covington 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 Covington, 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.
30 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Covington 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 Covington, 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
Covington is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Covington has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
70
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
186
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 33°F | 7.99" |
| Feb | 49°F | 33°F | 5.44" |
| Mar | 53°F | 35°F | 6.19" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 5.55" |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 3.87" |
| Jun | 70°F | 48°F | 3.15" |
| Jul | 77°F | 51°F | 1.29" |
| Aug | 77°F | 52°F | 1.64" |
| Sep | 71°F | 47°F | 2.83" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 5.76" |
| Nov | 50°F | 36°F | 8.51" |
| Dec | 45°F | 32°F | 7.46" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Covington
Covington has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Multicare Covington Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Auburn
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Renton
St Francis Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Federal Way
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.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Covington
Covington's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Covington (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (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, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Covington
Covington has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
19 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
40 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
65 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
79 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Covington
Covington Library
27100 164th Avenue Se, Covington
Cities Near Covington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Covington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Covington FAQ
Is Covington, Washington affordable?⌄
Covington's median rent is $2,232/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $134,502/year. Median home value is $637,300.
Is Covington, Washington safe?⌄
Covington's violent crime rate was 115 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 2492 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Covington, Washington?⌄
King County, which includes Covington, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Covington, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Covington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,232/month and median household income is $134,502/year. The median home value is $637,300. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Covington, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Covington is 33 minutes, which is longer than 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