Income Distribution

Sources: 2000 US Census, 2010 American Community Survey (1-year weighted average; 2011); Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey (5-year weighted average; 2011)

Key Findings

Exhibit 5-1 shows the distribution of household income by income quintile. Each quintile represents 20% of Seattle households.

Income shifted among the upper three quintiles from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the top 20% highest income households accounted for approximately 51% of Seattle income. In 2010, the highest income households accounted for 47% of income, with an absolute decrease of 4%. In the 4th income quintile, 2010 households accounted for 25% of Seattle income, 3% higher than in 2000 (Ex. 5-1).

Seattle median household income was $60,665 in 2010, 20% higher than the US median income of $50,046. Four of eight population groups in Seattle have higher median incomes than their national counterparts (Ex. 5-2).