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Living in
Shoreline.
About
Life in Shoreline
If you're considering Shoreline, you're looking at a stable, fairly affluent suburb with a strong Seattle connection but its own distinct character. The median home value hovers around $811,000 and median rent around $1,985, so this isn't a budget option—you're paying for proximity to the city and a community that's solidly upper-middle class. That said, the job market is solid with unemployment under 4.3%, and most people commute just under 28 minutes, which is reasonable for the region.
Shoreline at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
20.8%
Broadband Internet
93.8%
of households
Population Growth
+13.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.8% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Shoreline: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shoreline, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (12.3%), and 5.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.3%
of households
Married Couples
51.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 13% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Shoreline
In Shoreline, rent runs 13% above the WA average, and home values are 44% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,083
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $772,801 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WA average
Unemployment in Shoreline and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Shoreline is 0.4 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 Shoreline 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
Commute27.2 min avg
How Shoreline residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shoreline, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 21 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 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shoreline runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
137.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,919.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shoreline 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 Shoreline, 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.
28 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Shoreline is about 3% 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 Shoreline, 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
Shoreline is about 3% 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
Shoreline has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.8"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
163
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 37°F | 5.14" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 54°F | 39°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 2.98" |
| May | 65°F | 48°F | 2.16" |
| Jun | 70°F | 53°F | 1.57" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.78" |
| Aug | 77°F | 57°F | 1.00" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 1.74" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 5.85" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 5.55" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shoreline
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shoreline's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Swedish Edmonds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Edmonds
Seattle Children's Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 7 mi away · Seattle
Bhc Fairfax Hospital
Psychiatric · 7 mi away · Kirkland
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.
Education20.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shoreline
Shoreline's student/teacher ratio is 20.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Shoreline
Public · 2-year · 3,046 students · in-state tuition $5,232 · 47% graduate · median earnings $56,341 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
7.2 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
7.2 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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shoreline
Shoreline has 7 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 awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
35 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
61 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
69 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shoreline
Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Avenue Nw, Shoreline
Shoreline Library
345 Ne 175th St, Shoreline
Cities Near Shoreline
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shoreline?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shoreline FAQ
Is Shoreline, Washington affordable?⌄
Shoreline's median rent is $1,985/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $112,751/year. Median home value is $811,100.
Is Shoreline, Washington safe?⌄
Shoreline's violent crime rate was 138 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 1919 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shoreline, Washington?⌄
Shoreline has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shoreline, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Shoreline is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,985/month and median household income is $112,751/year. The median home value is $811,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shoreline, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Shoreline is 27 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