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Living in
Kent.
About
Life in Kent
This fourth-largest city in greater Seattle sits squarely in a thriving manufacturing and logistics hub—the kind of place where Boeing, Blue Origin, Amazon, and a massive warehouse district actually drive real jobs and keep the local economy humming rather than relying on tourism dollars. That means weekday mornings feel purposeful, not touristy, and you're living among people who are genuinely here to build careers and lives. The median household income sits around $90,000+, which is solid middle-to-upper-middle class, but you need to know the cost of living trade-off: median home prices hover around $587,800, and rent runs about $1,909 per month, so it's not cheap—you're paying Seattle-area prices without necessarily being in Seattle proper.
Kent at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Foreign-Born
33.2%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics33.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kent: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kent, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (13.6%), and 11.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.6%
of households
Married Couples
48.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.84
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 8% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Kent
In Kent, rent runs 8% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,446
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $630,799 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Kent and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Kent 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 Kent 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
Commute30.4 min avg
How Kent residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kent, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 14% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kent runs 14% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
282.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,129
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kent 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 Kent, 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
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Kent, 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
Climate76°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kent has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
39
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 36°F | 5.77" |
| Feb | 51°F | 36°F | 3.99" |
| Mar | 56°F | 39°F | 4.36" |
| Apr | 61°F | 43°F | 3.06" |
| May | 68°F | 49°F | 2.10" |
| Jun | 72°F | 53°F | 1.68" |
| Jul | 78°F | 57°F | 0.67" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.92" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 1.49" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 4.07" |
| Nov | 53°F | 39°F | 6.23" |
| Dec | 47°F | 35°F | 5.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kent
Uninsured
8.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kent's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Renton
Multicare Covington Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Covington
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Auburn
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.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kent
Kent's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
33
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kent (within 15 miles)
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)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
14.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (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)
Northwest College of Art & Design
14.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 139 students · in-state tuition $18,100 · 50% graduate · median earnings $39,289 (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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kent
Kent has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
15 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
44 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
61 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
74 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kent
Kent Library
212 2nd Ave N, Kent
Kent Panther Lake
20500 108th Avenue Se, Kent
Woodmont Library
26809 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines
Cities Near Kent
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kent?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kent FAQ
Is Kent, Washington affordable?⌄
Kent's median rent is $1,909/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $92,302/year. Median home value is $587,800.
Is Kent, Washington safe?⌄
Kent's violent crime rate was 283 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2129 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kent, Washington?⌄
Kent has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kent, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Kent is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,909/month and median household income is $92,302/year. The median home value is $587,800. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kent, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Kent is 30 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