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Living in
Issaquah.
About
Life in Issaquah
Issaquah works well if you want proximity to Seattle's job market without living in the city itself—your average commute is around 27 minutes, though that depends heavily on timing and which direction you're heading on I-90. The job market here is genuinely strong: Costco is headquartered here, plus you've got Microsoft, Siemens Medical Solutions, and other major employers, so there's real career opportunity if you're in tech or healthcare. The median home price hovers near $963,000 and median rent around $2,600, which reflects the affluence of the area—this isn't an affordable suburb, and it's only getting pricier with steady population growth.
Issaquah at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Foreign-Born
28.3%
Broadband Internet
96.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics28.3% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Issaquah: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Issaquah, the largest foreign-born group is from India (24.0%), and 7.9% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
55.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
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 47% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Issaquah
In Issaquah, rent runs 47% above the WA average, and home values are 71% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,312
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,090,122 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Issaquah and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Issaquah is 0.7 percentage points lower than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Issaquah 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
Commute25.3 min avg
How Issaquah residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Issaquah, most residents drive alone to work (49%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI)
Regional airport · few flights31k passengers boarded in 2025
- 14 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 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Issaquah runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,136.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Issaquah 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 Issaquah, 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
Issaquah 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 Issaquah, 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
Issaquah is about 2% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Issaquah has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.4"
Annual Snowfall
3.6"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
30
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 4.93" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 3.21" |
| Mar | 55°F | 40°F | 3.74" |
| Apr | 60°F | 43°F | 2.83" |
| May | 66°F | 49°F | 1.86" |
| Jun | 71°F | 54°F | 1.47" |
| Jul | 77°F | 58°F | 0.60" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.89" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 1.53" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 52°F | 40°F | 5.61" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 4.53" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Issaquah
Issaquah has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Swedish Issaquah
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Snoqualmie
Overlake Hospital Medical Center & Clinics
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Bellevue
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 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.
Education19.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Issaquah
Issaquah's student/teacher ratio is 19.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 70.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Issaquah (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
14.3 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)
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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,137 students · in-state tuition $14,100 · 45% graduate · median earnings $66,765 (10 yrs after entry)
DigiPen Institute of Technology
11.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 995 students · in-state tuition $40,070 · 58% graduate · median earnings $80,038 (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: Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Issaquah
Issaquah has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
13 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
50 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
55 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
77 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Issaquah
Issaquah Library
10 W Sunset Way, Issaquah
Cities Near Issaquah
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Issaquah?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Issaquah FAQ
Is Issaquah, Washington affordable?⌄
Issaquah's median rent is $2,590/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $154,669/year. Median home value is $963,000.
Is Issaquah, Washington safe?⌄
Issaquah's violent crime rate was 51 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 2136 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Issaquah, Washington?⌄
Issaquah has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Issaquah, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Issaquah is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,590/month and median household income is $154,669/year. The median home value is $963,000. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Issaquah, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Issaquah is 25 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