Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Burien, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

51,513

Median Agei

40.4

Race & Ethnicityi

White

45.7%23,537

Hispanic/Latino

24.2%12,452

Asian

15.3%7,894

Black

7.6%3,914

Two or More

5.5%2,829

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.8%426

Other

0.7%352

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%109

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.5%1,284

High School Diploma

17.7%6,496

Some College (<1 yr)

6%2,185

Some College (1+ yr)

13.5%4,955

Associate's Degree

11.1%4,059

Bachelor's Degree

21.7%7,956

Master's Degree

8.2%3,011

Professional Degree

2%731

Doctorate

1.3%474

HS or Higher

85%

BA or Higher

33.2%

Graduate+

11.5%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$638,800

Median Renti

$1,782

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.6%11,133

Renter-Occupied

43.4%8,539

Total Units

21,271

Homeownership

56.6%

Vacancy Rate

7.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

0.6%68

$50K–$100K

0.6%69

$100K–$150K

1.4%151

$150K–$200K

0.4%40

$200K–$300K

4.6%511

$300K–$500K

18.1%2,011

$500K–$1M

64%7,125

$1M+

10.4%1,158

Rent Distribution

Under $500

658

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

189

$1,000–$1,250

650

$1,250–$1,500

917

$1,500–$2,000

3,057

$2,000+

2,886

Year Built

2020 or later

0.2%37

2010–2019

4.9%1,048

2000–2009

7.6%1,609

1990–1999

7.3%1,548

1980–1989

13%2,764

1970–1979

10.2%2,165

1960–1969

18.6%3,951

1950–1959

17.8%3,792

1940–1949

12.4%2,645

1939 or earlier

8%1,712

Heating Fuel

Electricity

54.7%10,752

Utility Gas

34.8%6,850

Fuel Oil

9%1,763

Bottled/LP Gas

0.6%116

No Fuel

0.5%101

Solar

0.2%49

Other

0.1%26

Wood

0.1%15

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$91,318

Mean Household Incomei

$124,873

Per Capita Incomei

$49,093

Poverty Ratei

12.8%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

28,660

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.6%898

$10K–$15K

4.2%818

$15K–$20K

1.1%214

$20K–$25K

2.3%454

$25K–$30K

1.5%304

$30K–$35K

2.4%473

$35K–$40K

3.6%702

$40K–$45K

3%584

$45K–$50K

2.9%578

$50K–$60K

4.6%911

$60K–$75K

7.9%1,563

$75K–$100K

16.4%3,233

$100K–$125K

9.2%1,819

$125K–$150K

7%1,381

$150K–$200K

12.7%2,491

$200K+

16.5%3,249

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

13,43626.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

2,636

Philippines

1,018

Guatemala

474

Korea

318

India

294

Germany

104

Canada

101

China

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

25,785

Avg. Commutei

26.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

26,663

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,085(5.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

89.6%Insured

10.4%Uninsured