Seattle has reached a significant milestone, surpassing the 800,000 population mark for the first time ever, with the state Office of Financial Management (OFM) estimating the population at 816,600 residents as of April 1, 2025.
This marks the fifth consecutive year in which Seattle’s growth rate exceeded 2%, establishing it as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
As of April 2024, the OFM had estimated Seattle’s population at 797,700, indicating that the city added 18,900 residents within just one year, thereby achieving a growth rate of 2.4% from the previous year.
Notably, Seattle accounted for over half of King County’s total population increase this year, which saw an influx of 33,600 new residents.
Suburban growth in the Puget Sound region mirrored Seattle’s rapid expansion, though at a slower pace in most cases.
Cities like Bellevue saw a population increase from 155,000 to 158,000 residents, translating to a 1.9% growth rate, while Tacoma’s population grew from 225,100 to 228,400, reflecting a 1.5% growth.
Lynnwood also expanded, rising from 74,390 to 75,640 residents with a gain of 1.7%.
Noteworthy gains were observed in recent light rail beneficiaries.
Redmond reported a population increase from 80,040 to 82,380, achieving a growth rate of 2.9%.
Similarly, Shoreline experienced a population jump from 61,910 to 63,740, marking a gain of nearly 3%.
Sound Transit’s 2 Line, which reached the edge of Redmond in spring 2024, along with the Lynnwood Link extension bringing 1 Line service to Shoreline in fall 2024, has been credited for some of this growth.
Conversely, a handful of cities in the region displayed stagnant or shrinking populations.
Everett experienced a slight decrease, shrinking from 114,800 residents to 114,700, while Kent’s population also fell from 140,400 to 140,100, losing 300 residents.
The Urbanist has drawn attention to the trend of Seattle capturing the lion’s share of regional growth over the past decade, particularly evident since the city first surpassed the 700,000 mark in 2017.
The ongoing trend is notable, especially given the broader American inclination toward suburban sprawl, which makes Seattle’s sustained growth in a metropolitan area like King County rather extraordinary.
In fact, Seattle contributed most significantly to King County’s growth, outpacing the combined growth of Pierce and Snohomish Counties, all while the county itself surpassed 2.4 million residents, setting a new record.
However, the challenges of managing this rapid growth in Seattle remain unresolved.
Data indicates that the city’s population growth has been unevenly distributed, with some areas characterized by single-family zoning seeing negative population growth over the past three decades.
Single-family zones have traditionally occupied about two-thirds of Seattle’s residential land, while most new housing development has focused on limited areas designated as urban centers, where apartments are allowed to be constructed.
The city is at a crossroads with a pending major update to Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan.
While there is pressure from city planners for more expansive measures, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposal has largely adhered to the existing “Urban Village Strategy,” which concentrates multifamily growth in specified zones.
Nonetheless, the Mayor’s One Seattle Plan aims to double Seattle’s housing capacity, pushing the upper limit to 330,000 new units.
Some of this increased capacity is a result of state mandates, including a recently enacted middle housing requirement that takes effect in June 2024 for cities across Puget Sound, including Seattle.
However, much of the promised capacity lies in large lots along vital corridors such as Aurora Avenue North, which remain uncertain for redevelopment.
Housing advocates, including groups like the Complete Communities Coalition and The Urbanist, have urged the city to expand its housing proposals, advocating for the addition of more neighborhood growth centers and enhanced bonuses for affordable housing options.
Despite the Comprehensive Plan being scheduled for an update by the end of 2024, the timeline has been derailed due to delays from the Harrell Administration and legal challenges.
The city has indicated that the majority of the plan’s new housing capacity will not be approved until 2026 as part of a secondary phase, emphasizing that crucial votes taken in September will shape the boundaries where this denser housing will be permitted.
As a result of these delays, new housing opportunities continue to remain on hold.
While Seattle set a record for home production in 2024, the permit pipeline has begun to dry up, with a notable decrease in new housing applications over the last few years.
image source from：theurbanist
