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Indicator: Ratio of Housing Units to Population

Data and Data Discussion provided by Puget Sound Regional Council

County Summary of Housing Units, Households, and Population 2000 & 2007

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Upstream Indicators

There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.

Downstream Indicators
  •   Housing Affordability by City --- Homes prices have increased at a greater rate than incomes over the last two decades, making home ownership less affordable. However, rents have increased at a slower rate, generally in line with median household incomes.  (view data graph)
  •   Housing AND Transportation Costs as a Percentage of Budget --- There is no on-going reporting for this indicator broken down for King County or the Central Puget Sound, though there are multiple data sources showing that the costs of transportation and housing are going up in the region. Recent hikes in gas prices indicate that these costs will continue to escalate.  (view data graph)
  •   Housing Affordability Gap --- The ratio of median income sales price to median household incomes has increased in all four Central Puget Sound counties from 1995 to 2007. (2) Median income levels generally have kept better pace with increases in average rents from 2000 to 2006. (1)  (view data graph)
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Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

The lack of affordable housing is fundamentally an issue of supply and demand. Are we building enough affordable housing units to meet demand, particularly as our region’s population continues to grow? Too great a demand in relation to supply drives up prices. Affordable housing advocates lament the shortfall of units that could close the affordability gap. At the same time, in just over 3 years Seattle has reached the halfway mark of its 20 year targeted growth rate for housing units, putting a strain on public services. (1)

Sustainability Trend:

Between 2000 and 2007, the region experienced a small reduction in average household size, decreasing from 2.494 in 2000 to 2.491 in 2007.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Ratio of the number of housing units to population.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

The April 1, 2007 population of the central Puget Sound counties was estimated at 1,861,226 for King County, 244,827 for Kitsap County, 790,540 for Pierce County, and 686,258 for Snohomish County. Total housing units in the central Puget Sound was estimated at 1,508,255 in 2007 while King County was estimated at 813,020, Kitsap County at 102,505, Pierce County at 319,385, and Snohomish County at 273,345. Between 2000 and 2007, the region experienced a small reduction in average household size, decreasing from 2.494 in 2000 to 2.491 in 2007. At the county level, decreases in average household size between 2000 and 2007 occurred in Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. King County increased in average household size over the 7 year period with 2.390 persons per household in 2000 and an estimated 2.401 persons per household in 2007.

Data Source and Limitations

  • 2000 U.S. Census of Population and Housing
  • Puget Sound Regional Council

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Additional Resources

  • Housing Growth in Seattle
    This interactive map charts the progress toward those targets for each of Seattle's 38 urban villages, as well as links to a boundary map for each. Provided by the Seattle PI.