Washington

At a glance (2023)

• Cost of living: 8% above the U.S. average
• Median home value: $519,800 (national: $303,400)
• Home prices, 5 years: +50.9% over the 5 years to 2023
• Monthly rent: $1,682 (national: $1,348)
• Homeownership: 64% (national: 65%)
• Unemployment: 4.2% (national: 3.6%)
• Household income: $94,952 (national: $78,538)
• Median age: 38.2 yrs (national: 38.7)

The cost of living runs about 8% above the national average. The median home is valued at $519,800 (nominal). Home prices have risen about 51% over the five years to 2023. Median rent is about $1,682 a month. Unemployment averaged 4.2% in 2023 (national 3.6%). Median household income is $94,952. These figures describe all residents, not just tax filers, come from separate sources than the migration data on this page, and do not indicate why anyone moved.

Migration summary

Between the 2022 and 2023 filing years, Washington saw a net gain of 8,282 tax-filing households and a net loss of 2,328 individuals. Against a population of about 7,812,880, that is a net outflow of about 0.3 per 1,000 residents. On net, the area lost $549.4M in associated adjusted gross income (AGI, nominal dollars). The largest inflow, about 24,625 households, came from California; the largest outflow, about 17,871 households, went to California. In the prior (2022) filing year, the area saw a net loss of 17,867 individuals. These figures cover federal income tax filers only and do not indicate why people moved.

Income (AGI) in and out

• Moved in: $11.3B
• Moved out: $11.9B
• Net: -$549.4M (nominal)

Top origin states

1. California — 24,625 households, $2.7B
2. Oregon — 15,339 households, $1.4B
3. Texas — 9,307 households, $859.8M
4. Arizona — 5,803 households, $514.4M
5. Florida — 5,333 households, $433.5M
6. Idaho — 5,146 households, $316.6M
7. Colorado — 3,935 households, $340.9M
8. New York — 3,649 households, $394.4M
9. Illinois — 2,734 households, $281.1M
10. Virginia — 2,660 households, $255.5M

Top destination states

1. California — 17,871 households, $2.1B
2. Oregon — 12,212 households, $888.9M
3. Texas — 9,863 households, $1.2B
4. Arizona — 8,011 households, $899.2M
5. Idaho — 6,151 households, $524.6M
6. Florida — 5,661 households, $745.4M
7. New York — 3,513 households, $418.9M
8. Colorado — 3,480 households, $335.1M
9. Nevada — 2,580 households, $300.3M
10. Virginia — 2,575 households, $256.2M

Churn by state (both directions at once)

The biggest two-way exchanges of filing households, 2022–2023. Moved in and moved out are gross one-way counts; net is the difference. Counts are filing households (IRS returns), matching the lists above; income is nominal AGI. A dash means the IRS published only one direction of that exchange (small flows are suppressed), so no net is computed.

• California: 24,625 in, 17,871 out, +6,754 net, +$668.6M
• Oregon: 15,339 in, 12,212 out, +3,127 net, +$487.5M
• Texas: 9,307 in, 9,863 out, -556 net, -$317.9M
• Arizona: 5,803 in, 8,011 out, -2,208 net, -$384.8M
• Idaho: 5,146 in, 6,151 out, -1,005 net, -$208M
• Florida: 5,333 in, 5,661 out, -328 net, -$311.9M
• Colorado: 3,935 in, 3,480 out, +455 net, +$5.9M
• New York: 3,649 in, 3,513 out, +136 net, -$24.5M
• Virginia: 2,660 in, 2,575 out, +85 net, -$709K
• Nevada: 2,609 in, 2,580 out, +29 net, -$115.3M
• Illinois: 2,734 in, 2,158 out, +576 net, +$73.7M
• North Carolina: 2,371 in, 2,464 out, -93 net, -$57.4M

Net migration by year

Net 2012–2023: +$11.1B (+232,859 people)

• 2012: +$561.7M, +11,504 people
• 2013: +$1.3B, +18,196 people
• 2014: +$976.3M, +27,071 people
• 2015: +$1.1B, +28,619 people
• 2016: +$2.2B, +53,336 people
• 2017: +$2.8B, +58,381 people
• 2018: +$1.7B, +30,054 people
• 2019: +$1.1B, +29,903 people
• 2020: +$1.3B, +9,426 people
• 2021: +$200.1M, -13,436 people
• 2022: -$1.6B, -17,867 people
• 2023: -$549.4M, -2,328 people

Migration in context

In the 2022–2023 filing year, about 2,328 more people left Washington than moved in (counting tax filers and their dependents) — a net loss of about $549.4M in income (nominal) — in a state of 7,838,655 people. Population: 7,838,655 (Census 2023 estimate). Net migration rate: 0.3 net people per 1,000 residents. A town of 10,000 would net about -3 people. Net income per resident: −$70 nominal dollars ≈ -$549.4M total across 7,838,655 residents. The rate lets you compare Washington with a state of any size: it's the net flow divided by population. The IRS counts tax filers; population counts all residents, so read the rate as a scale indicator, not a literal share of people.

Components of population change 2023 (Census)

Where the state's overall change came from. Census counts all residents; the IRS migration above is one slice of the domestic-migration component.

• Births: +82,165
• Deaths: 67,733
• Net domestic migration: 17,511
• Net international migration: +55,706
• Total change: +51,827

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. Figures are people, not tax filers.

Income & cost of living

Prices around Washington run about 8% above the national average. In plain terms: $100 spent here buys about what $92 buys in the average American community. The figures below apply that to income, each compared to the U.S. average of $70,002 per person.

• Income per person: $81,087 (BEA 2023, nominal) — 16% above the U.S. average
• Price level: 108.4 (100 = U.S. average prices, BEA price parity) — everyday costs about 8.4% higher than average
• What that income buys: $74,824 local income restated at U.S.-average prices — 7% above the U.S. average

Price parity shown at the state level (BEA does not publish a single figure below the metro level).

Where the cost comes from — price parity by category

Index where 100 = U.S. average for that category. Housing is usually what separates one place from another.

• Housing & rents: 125.5
• Goods: 106.9
• Utilities: 84.0
• Other services: 105.6

Housing is measured from rents (including an estimated rental value for owner-occupied homes), so a run-up in purchase prices shows here only as it reaches rents. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Covers all residents, a separate universe from the IRS filer income above.

Who lives here — the people of Washington

American Community Survey, 2019–2023 (a 5-year average of all residents, not just tax filers).

• Median age: 38.2 years
• Median household income: $94,952 per household (ACS 2019–2023, nominal) — 21% above the U.S. median
• College degree: 39% adults 25+ with a bachelor's or higher
• Poverty rate: 9.9% residents below the poverty line
• Average commute: 27 min mean travel time to work
• Broadband at home: 93% households with any broadband

Race and ethnicity (share of residents):

• White: 64%
• Hispanic: 14%
• Black: 4%
• Asian: 9%
• Other: 9%

White, Black, and Asian counts are people who are not Hispanic or Latino; Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Shares are rounded and may not total 100. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Covers all residents, a separate universe from the IRS filer data. A 5-year estimate is an average over 2019–2023; compare years at least five apart, since consecutive windows overlap.

Housing — what it costs to live here (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median home value: $519,800 owner-occupied homes — 71% above the U.S. median
• Median rent: $1,682 gross rent per month — 25% above the U.S. median
• Homeownership: 64% of occupied homes are owner-occupied

Home-price appreciation (FHFA index, 2023):

• Past year: +1.2% price change, 2022 to 2023
• Past 5 years: +51% price change, 2018 to 2023

A repeat-sales index (how much the same homes changed in price), so it tracks the market over time rather than the current level. Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency, annual all-transactions HPI; the county series is FHFA's developmental index.

New home construction (building permits, 2023):

• 37,097 new housing units authorized in 2023
• Single-family: 49%
• Multifamily: 51%

Units authorized by residential building permits (new supply), summed from counties for the state and U.S. Permits are authorizations, not completions. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Home value is what owners estimate their homes are worth, not recent sale prices. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2019–2023), nominal dollars.

Local economy & risk

Unemployment rate: 4.2% (BLS 2023 annual average). Labor force: 4,027,320; 3,857,883 employed. Disaster declarations: 1 major federal, 2023, most common: Severe Storm. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) and FEMA. A disaster declaration marks federal assistance eligibility, not damage severity, and says nothing about why anyone moved.

Unemployment now

4.8% (May 2026) ▲ 0.5 points vs May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Monthly unemployment for this state, not seasonally adjusted. Updated every month, so it moves faster than the annual average above.

Who's moving by income — net migration by income bracket

Tax-filing households that moved into Washington minus those that left, by the adjusted gross income they reported, 2022–2023. Positive means more arrived than left at that income level.

• $1–$10k: 0 net (8,595 in, 8,595 out), +$527K AGI
• $10k–$25k: +1,381 (19,166 in, 17,785 out), +$28.1M AGI
• $25k–$50k: +3,400 (31,192 in, 27,792 out), +$124.5M AGI
• $50k–$75k: +2,647 (19,906 in, 17,259 out), +$165.4M AGI
• $75k–$100k: +1,937 (13,232 in, 11,295 out), +$170.1M AGI
• $100k–$200k: +1,257 (21,612 in, 20,355 out), +$139.2M AGI
• $200k+: -2,057 (10,461 in, 12,518 out), -$1.2B AGI

Among the highest earners ($200k+), Washington ranks #44 of 51 states for net household migration (-2,057). Source: IRS Statistics of Income, state-level gross migration file (returns with negative AGI are excluded, so this won't exactly match the totals above). Income is what filers reported, not a reason anyone moved.

Goods trade — what Washington ships and receives

Physical goods shipped between Washington and other states, 2022. This is freight, not the migration of people or income shown above.

• Ships to other states: $183.3B (+14% since 2017)
• Receives from states: $224.0B (+46% since 2017)
• Net balance: -$40.6B

Top goods shipped out:

• Electronic and other electrical equipment and components, and office equipment: $44.7B
• Mixed freight: $38.9B
• Transportation equipment, not elsewhere classified: $36.3B
• Textiles, leather, and articles of textiles or leather: $27.9B
• Pharmaceutical products: $27.5B
• Miscellaneous manufactured products: $22.7B

Top goods received:

• Mixed freight: $53.2B
• Electronic and other electrical equipment and components, and office equipment: $45.0B
• Pharmaceutical products: $27.0B
• Miscellaneous manufactured products: $20.7B
• Transportation equipment, not elsewhere classified: $20.4B
• Textiles, leather, and articles of textiles or leather: $17.6B

Biggest trading partners (both ways): Goods trade runs in both directions: states swap different goods, so a partner is often near the top of both columns. Net is ships minus receives (positive means Washington ships more to that partner than it gets back).

• Oregon: ships $39.6B, receives $64.7B, net -$25.1B, total $104.3B
• California: ships $26.2B, receives $39.5B, net -$13.3B, total $65.8B
• Texas: ships $8.4B, receives $11.1B, net -$2.7B, total $19.5B
• Tennessee: ships $12.1B, receives $2.6B, net +$9.5B, total $14.7B
• Idaho: ships $8.7B, receives $4.7B, net +$3.9B, total $13.4B
• Minnesota: ships $2.7B, receives $8.9B, net -$6.3B, total $11.6B
• Illinois: ships $5.1B, receives $6.1B, net -$937M, total $11.2B
• Florida: ships $7.3B, receives $3.9B, net +$3.5B, total $11.2B

Goods shipped every five years by the Census Commodity Flow Survey (a sample, so figures are estimates and the smallest flows are withheld).