Income and Poverty in the State of Washington

When put side-by-side with other States throughout the United States, the State of Washington may be understood as having a medium-low rate of poverty among the people, accounting a rate of 10.6 percent of people living in a family with an income below the poverty level in 1999. The Hispanic race/ethnicity demographic category, owns the foremost rate of poverty with 24.9 percent of the 2000 population living in poverty. People that are of the age Under 5 years are witness to the most percent living in poverty in Washington, accounting 15.9 percent of this age group in the area living in poverty.

When analyzed against other States in the US, the State of Washington was reported to have a medium-high median income for all households of $53,558 (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars). This is 8.3 percent higher than the median for the rest of the nation, which is a reported $49,133.

The American Indian and Alaska Native householders in Washington had a median income of $38,224, which was 28.6 percent less than the areas median level for all households. In the State of Washington, White householders had a median household income (in 2005 Dollars) of $55,041 as reported by the Decennial Census of 2000, which was 2.8 percent greater than the median in the year 2000. Hispanic in Washington, as reported in 2000, had a median household income of $38,326, this income level is 28.4 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area. According to the 2000 Census, the Asian headed households in the area have median household incomes of $55,595. This household income level is 3.8 percent greater than the all households reported median in the state. Black or African American headed households had a median household income that was 21.5 percent less than the all population median published in the 2000 Census, with a median of $42,025.

While household income level experienced a decline in the last five year in the State of Washington, the Race/Ethnicity group that went through the most dramatic decline in the household income level was the American Indian and Alaska Native category. This category saw a decline of 39.6 percent since the year 2000. The White population category was least influenced by the median household income decline in Washington, seeing a 20.6 percent increase in median household income from 2000 to 2005.

The poverty rate in the State of Washington has increased by 1.3 percent from the levels reported in the Decennial Census of 2000, moving from 10.6 percent to 11.9 percent.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Washington range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $62,194 in King County to a low of $33,443 in Whitman County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Washington
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. King County ($62,194)
2. Snohomish County ($62,080 )
3. Clark County ($56,600)
4. Benton County ($55,041)
5. Thurston County ($54,961)
6. Kitsap County ($54,803)
7. Island County ($53,250)
8. Pierce County ($52,889)
9. San Juan County ($50,884)
10. Skagit County ($49,586)

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Washington range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 25.6 percent in Whitman County to a low of 6.9 percent in Snohomish County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Washington
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. Whitman County (25.6 percent)
2. Okanogan County (21.3 )
3. Yakima County (19.7 percent)
4. Kittitas County (19.6 percent)
5. Franklin County (19.2 percent)
6. Ferry County (19 percent)
7. Adams County (18.2 percent)
8. Pend Oreille County (18.1 percent)
9. Grant County (17.4 percent)
10. Klickitat County (17 percent)


The median household income in the area has declined from the values (adjusted for inflation) in 2000. The median has decreased to $49,262, which represents a 8 percent decline. The State of Washington ranks 15 of 46 states when comparing total percent of decline in household income across the nation.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.