Living in Kent, WA

Explore Kent and see how it fits the life you want to build.

135,603 Population King County County City Place Type Washington State
Overall Match6.7 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Kent at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population135,603
Median Household Income$92,302
Median Home Value$587,800
Median Gross Rent$1,909
Median Age35.5
Average Household Size2.8
Unemployment7.0%
Work From Home13.7%
Homeownership57.2%
Housing Vacancy5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Kent is large enough to contain meaningfully different residential, commercial and employment areas rather than functioning as one uniform market. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Kent Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Kent →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Kent and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value2.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment3.1 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability3.4 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly3.4 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength4.4 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Kent

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$587,800
Median Gross Rent$1,909
Homeownership57.2%
Housing Vacancy5.0%
Housing Value5.0/10
Housing Stability6.8/10

Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Kent, WA

Median Household Income$92,302
Unemployment7.0%
Work From Home13.7%
Employment6.2/10
Remote Work Friendly6.8/10
Income Strength8.8/10

The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. A meaningful share of employed residents work from home.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Kent and how households are structured

Population135,603
Median Age35.5
Average Household Size2.8

Kent is a mid-sized community where neighborhood and nearby-employment patterns can materially affect a relocation decision.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Kent

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Kent point to warm summers, cool winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and occasional snowfall.

Average Summer High78.3°F
Average Winter Low36.1°F
Annual Rainfall44.7 in.
Annual Snowfall6.3 in.

Seasonal Life in Kent

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer highs are comparatively mild, which may reduce cooling demands and can make daytime outdoor activity more comfortable than in hotter inland locations.

Fall

Fall can be one of the best seasons for comparing neighborhoods because daily routines are active while temperatures transition away from summer conditions.

Winter

Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

Kent is located in King County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. King County.

County Intelligence

Kent & King County

Data Pending Foreclosure Activity

Kent is located in King County, Washington.

NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Kent.

Current NarrowTheList data for Kent shows a population of about 135,603. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship King County
How NarrowTheList uses it

County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Kent.

For someone considering a move to Kent, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting and employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.

Des Moines, WA 4.9 miles away Covington, WA 5.4 miles away SeaTac, WA 5.4 miles away Auburn, WA 5.9 miles away Renton, WA 6.2 miles away Tukwila, WA 6.6 miles away Normandy Park, WA 6.8 miles away Algona, WA 7.7 miles away Federal Way, WA 7.9 miles away Maple Valley, WA 8.5 miles away Burien, WA 8.5 miles away Pacific, WA 9.0 miles away