Prepare for 1.8 million more people in Central Puget Sound region
Jan 29, 2018, 1:11 PM | Updated: 1:24 pm
The Central Puget Sound region will grow to nearly 6 million people by 2050, according to the Puget Sound Regional Council.
King County homeowners will see higher taxes
The region will add an average of 55,000 more people a year as we increase from approximately 4 million to 5.8 million people.
More than 1.2 million jobs coupled with an aging population that is sticking around will contribute to the growth.
Though the region’s population will continue its upward trend, the average number of people moving to the area each year is actually slowing. According to the Puget Sound Regional Council, at least 80,000 people moved to Central Puget Sound in 2016 and 2017. The last time the region saw that type of growth was 1990-91.
Growing Puget Sound
In 2017, King County was the region’s fastest growing county, increasing by 48,600 people over 2016, according to a PSRC report. Snohomish County saw an additional 16,500 people, following by Pierce County with 14,900 and Kitsap County by an additional 1,700 people.
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Since 2008, King County’s population growth rate has outpaced the region’s other counties, except in 2010.
Last year, Seattle continued to be the fastest growing city, trailed by Bellevue, Tacoma, Kirkland, Kent, Burien, Renton, and Auburn.
