The Seattle metro is home to 4,021,467 people (up 5.6% over five years), with a median household income of $112,594. Typical rent of $2,250/month works out to 24.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Seattle's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 20.4% |
| Professional & management | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 11.9% |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.1% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Seattle market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $2,250/month suggests a household income around $90,000/year. The metro's median household income is $112,594.
By workforce share: Education & health care (20.4%), Professional & management (17.9%), Retail trade (11.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).