The Town FilesKent, Washington
City in King County · population 136,588 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $587,800
- Household income
- $92,302
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 35.5
Kent is a city of 136,588 people in King County, Washington. The median home is worth $587,800, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better transit than 95% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 92% of Washington towns, more walkable than 85% of Washington towns.
How Kent 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 Kent is worth $587,800, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $92,302, which is more affordable than 21% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,909 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kent | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $587,800 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,909 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $92,302 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Kent
| People | Kent | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Kent
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.3 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 39 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 28, 1962 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 22, 1971.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 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 Kent itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Kent
35 public schools with 18,275 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentridge High School | 9-12 | 2,124 | 22.6 |
| Kent-Meridian High School | 9-12 | 1,706 | 19.2 |
| Kentlake High School | 9-12 | 1,551 | 20.1 |
| Mill Creek Middle School | 6-8 | 819 | 18.2 |
| Canyon Ridge Middle School | 6-8 | 790 | 18.4 |
| Evergreen Middle School | 6-8 | 737 | 18.4 |
| Meridian Middle School | 6-8 | 656 | 17.7 |
| Sunnycrest Elementary School | PK-5 | 527 | 16.0 |
| Scenic Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 513 | 15.1 |
| Park Orchard Elementary School | PK-5 | 492 | 17.6 |
| Sunrise Elementary School | PK-5 | 489 | 16.3 |
| Neely O Brien Elementary School | K-5 | 478 | 12.6 |
Towns near Kent
- Lakeland North, WA4.9 mi · 13,663 people · home $557,000
- Des Moines, WA4.9 mi · 32,888 people · home $597,000
- Fairwood, WA5.1 mi · 19,396 people · home $733,200
- Covington, WA5.4 mi · 20,777 people · home $637,300
- SeaTac, WA5.4 mi · 31,454 people · home $519,700
- Auburn, WA5.9 mi · 87,256 people · home $547,900
- Renton, WA6.2 mi · 106,785 people · home $672,600
- Lake Morton-Berrydale, WA6.5 mi · 10,474 people · home $714,200
Kent questions
Is Kent, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kent scores better for retirees than 5% of Washington towns and quieter than 5%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Kent?
The median owner-occupied home in Kent is valued at $587,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,302, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,909 a month.
What is the weather like in Kent?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.3 inches of snow.
Does Kent get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 28, 1962. 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)