The Town FilesBellevue, Washington
City in King County · population 151,854 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,340,300
- Household income
- $165,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 38.5
Bellevue is a city of 151,854 people in King County, Washington. The median home is worth $1,340,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Washington towns, more upscale than 97% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 93% of Washington towns.
How Bellevue ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bellevue is worth $1,340,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 8.1 times the median household income of $165,576, which is more affordable than 4% of Washington towns. Median rent is $2,572 a month. 52.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bellevue | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,340,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $2,572 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $165,576 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.1× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 52.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Bellevue
| People | Bellevue | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.1% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 43.5% | — |
| Work from home | 35.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Bellevue
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bellevue since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 12, 1969 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 12, 1969.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 8, 1972.
Severe weather in King County since 1996
King County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5455: Bolt Creek Fire |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in King County
King County had 1,449,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $132,279 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Bellevue itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Bellevue
30 public schools with 20,109 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,844 | 21.0 |
| Bellevue High School | 9-12 | 1,634 | 22.1 |
| Interlake Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,604 | 19.6 |
| Sammamish Senior High | 9-12 | 1,332 | 22.2 |
| Odle Middle School | 6-8 | 919 | 18.4 |
| Tyee Middle School | 6-8 | 909 | 18.9 |
| Chinook Middle School | 6-8 | 735 | 17.9 |
| Somerset Elementary School | K-5 | 714 | 21.6 |
| Tillicum Middle School | 6-8 | 700 | 18.9 |
| Clyde Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 636 | 19.3 |
| International School | 6-12 | 597 | 19.9 |
| Highland Middle School | 6-8 | 593 | 15.6 |
Towns near Bellevue
- Clyde Hill, WA3.6 mi · 3,126 people · home $2,000,001
- Mercer Island, WA4.2 mi · 25,748 people · home $2,000,001
- Medina, WA4.5 mi · 2,915 people · home $2,000,001
- Newcastle, WA4.6 mi · 13,017 people · home $1,205,600
- Sammamish, WA5.5 mi · 67,455 people · home $1,407,300
- Redmond, WA5.9 mi · 73,256 people · home $1,167,800
- Issaquah, WA6.2 mi · 40,051 people · home $963,000
- Kirkland, WA7.2 mi · 92,175 people · home $1,115,400
Bellevue questions
Is Bellevue, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bellevue scores better for retirees than 45% of Washington towns and quieter than 12%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Bellevue?
The median owner-occupied home in Bellevue is valued at $1,340,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $165,576, so homes cost about 8.1 times income. Median rent is $2,572 a month.
What is the weather like in Bellevue?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Bellevue get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bellevue since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 12, 1969. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)