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Living in
SeaTac.
About
Life in SeaTac
If you're considering SeaTac, you're looking at life in an airport-adjacent suburb that's genuinely built around transportation infrastructure — and that shapes everything here. The economy revolves around the airport and aerospace companies, which means decent job availability and a median household income in the mid-$81,000s, but also constant aircraft noise depending on where you live. Housing costs have climbed to a median home value near $520,000 and median rent around $1,660 per month, putting you in line with broader Seattle metro pricing.
SeaTac at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Foreign-Born
39.9%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+10.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics39.9% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in SeaTac: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In SeaTac, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (20.9%), and 16.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
12.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.8%
of households
Married Couples
42.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
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 6% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in SeaTac
In SeaTac, rent runs 6% below the WA average, and home values are 8% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,104
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $572,153 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above WA average
Unemployment in SeaTac and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in SeaTac is 0.5 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What SeaTac 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
Commute25.4 min avg
How SeaTac residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In SeaTac, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 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 10% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in SeaTac runs 10% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
296.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,929.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Seatac 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 SeaTac, 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
SeaTac is about 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 SeaTac, 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
SeaTac is about 1% 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
SeaTac 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in SeaTac
Uninsured
11.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside SeaTac's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Highline Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Burien
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Renton
Navos - Inpatient Services
Psychiatric · 6.9 mi away · Seattle
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.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in SeaTac
SeaTac's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 26.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near SeaTac (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
14.6 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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for SeaTac
SeaTac has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
11 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
49 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
56 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
68 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in SeaTac
Valley View Library
17850 Military Road S, Seatac
Cities Near SeaTac
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to SeaTac?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
SeaTac FAQ
Is SeaTac, Washington affordable?⌄
SeaTac's median rent is $1,660/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $81,104/year. Median home value is $519,700.
Is SeaTac, Washington safe?⌄
SeaTac's violent crime rate was 297 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1930 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in SeaTac, Washington?⌄
SeaTac has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in SeaTac, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in SeaTac is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,660/month and median household income is $81,104/year. The median home value is $519,700. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in SeaTac, Washington?⌄
The average commute in SeaTac 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