Where Are People Moving in King, WA?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
60,834
People moving out
60,973
Net migration
-13,003
King, WA is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 60,834 people moved in and 60,973 moved out, for a net loss of -13,003. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving King, WA’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to King, WA from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Snohomish, WAWashington | 7,334 | 11,026 |
| Pierce, WAWashington | 6,086 | 9,505 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 2,363 | 3,138 |
| Santa Clara, CACalifornia | 1,462 | 2,036 |
| Maricopa, AZArizona | 1,322 | 1,817 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | 1,128 | 1,591 |
| Kitsap, WAWashington | 960 | 1,290 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 954 | 1,209 |
| Orange, CACalifornia | 937 | 1,266 |
| Multnomah, OROregon | 927 | 1,188 |
Top counties people left King, WA for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Snohomish, WAWashington | 10,534 | 17,266 |
| Pierce, WAWashington | 9,291 | 16,244 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 1,799 | 2,375 |
| Maricopa, AZArizona | 1,502 | 2,460 |
| Kitsap, WAWashington | 1,360 | 2,186 |
| Santa Clara, CACalifornia | 1,214 | 1,725 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | 1,112 | 1,592 |
| Thurston, WAWashington | 1,085 | 1,680 |
| Whatcom, WAWashington | 1,004 | 1,433 |
| New York, NYNew York | 918 | 1,053 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to King, WA or leaving?
King, WA had a net loss of -13,003 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 60,834 people moving in and 60,973 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to King, WA from?
The largest sources of new King, WA residents are Snohomish, WA, Pierce, WA, Los Angeles, CA. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving King, WA go?
People leaving King, WA most often move to Snohomish, WA, Pierce, WA, Los Angeles, CA. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does King, WA migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside King, WA's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this King, WA migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.