Algona, Washington from the air, 2007
Algona’s story
117 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,311 in 1960, 3,290 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1949 on.
- 1909Algona is settled
Population
3,253
2025 Census estimate · −1.1% since 2020
Typical home
$518K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$85K
median
Median age
34.5
years
Jobs based here
1,407
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#140 of 285 in WA
Is Algona a good place to live?
Algona is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades B− overall, 140th of 285 graded towns in Washington, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is health: it is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $518K, 4.5 years of the Seattle metro’s $115K median household income. 6.3% of residents are 65 or older in Algona, below both the Washington town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Algona is more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns. On civic life, just 11 of Washington’s 198 towns do worse.
What makes Algona stand out
Where Algona beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
How Algona grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Algona is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.1 of 20; 3.9% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →HealthMulticare Auburn Medical Center 2.1 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →SchoolsBehind 55% of Washington districts on tests and graduationB−Open →Jobs & income$85K median household income; 1,407 jobs based hereB−Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 3% conserved landB+Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life1.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 151 attractions →Space Needle and 131 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Algona. Close and well known come first.
Big draw24 mi LookoutSpace Needle
Big draw22 mi Stadium & arenaLumen Field
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaClimate Pledge Arena
3 mi Theme parkWild Waves Theme Park
22 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile Park
9 mi Stadium & arenaTacoma DomeSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Space Needle: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lumen Field: "Smart Destinations", GoSeattleCard.com, and Go Seattle Card Blog, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Climate Pledge Arena: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wild Waves Theme Park: Jessica Spengler from Hove, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 · T-Mobile Park: MyName (Cacophony), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tacoma Dome: Broran28, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Algona: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Algona, and how to reach them.
PowerPuget Sound Energy17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAlgona Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerWaste Management picks up at the curb for every homeTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereKing County ElectionsKing County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code9800198001 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Algona.
Algona fares better on crime within Washington than nationally, has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns and trades workers with Seattle and other neighbors.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Algona faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.
89risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingVolcanic activity
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Algona earns a B+ for health
Within Washington it is less healthy than 60% of the 285 graded towns: Washington sets a high bar.
67% of Algona adults had a checkup this year. Algona beats the Washington average on 3 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 27% of Algona adults have obesity.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Algona | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 67% | 71% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 33% | 35% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
31 measures vs. Washington
3 better14 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Algona | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.1% | 7.9% |
| Fewer adults with obesity | 26.8% | 30.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 15% | 10.2% |
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
2.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
40th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Algona
July afternoons average 76.9°, cooler than in 97% of U.S. towns; January nights average 35.6°.
Algona has mild winters and pleasant summers. Algona’s July high is 77°F. About 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.
6″snow a winter
| Algona | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 77°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 36°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–48°
Spring42–60°
Summer54–75°
Fall44–61°
Nov 10
typical first frost
Mar 20
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most working residents commute out of Algona
Algona has about as many jobs (1,407) as working residents, but only 22 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Algona for work: only 1% work in town. 12% of residents live below the poverty line in Algona. The top destinations are Seattle (16%), Auburn (13%) and Kent (9%).
1%work in town
| Algona | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 5% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $85,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Algona1%
Seattle16%
Auburn13%
Kent9%
Tacoma7%
11 mi
median commute distance
1,407
jobs based in Algona
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
Algona earns a C+ for cost of living
The median rent in Algona is $1,838 a month. The typical Algona home is worth about $518,000, down 1.5% in a year, 12% below the Washington typical home.
$518KZillow home value
| Algona | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,838 a month | $1,737 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Algona$518K
Washington$588K
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsB+
2.6% of Algona is conserved land
0.7 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is David E. Hill Wetland Preserve, at 23 acres.
2.6%conserved
| Algona | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.6% | 4% | 4.3% |
2.6%
conserved · 22 of 820 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. David E. Hill Wetland Preserve | 0.2 mi | 23 |
| 2. Algona Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyB−
Less crime per resident in Algona than in 50% of U.S. towns
At 18.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 73% of Washington’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 67 to 33 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
50%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Algona0.6
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Algona9.5
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
50th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
73rd
percentile among WA towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
31
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Algona
19pages on Algona
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 55% of WA districtsSafetyB−0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than WA on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$518K typical home · down 1.5% in a yearWork & commuteB−$85K median household income · 1,407 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 89% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Algona
Green River CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Auburn4.1 mi$4,711 in-state tuitionHighline CollegeCommunity college · Public · Des Moines7.7 mi$4,772 in-state tuitionNorthwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Tacoma9.1 mi$18,100 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Algona residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
About Algona
City in Washington, United States
Algona () is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and the Seattle metropolitan area, surrounded by the suburbs of Auburn to the north and east, Pacific to the south, and unincorporated King County to the west. The population was 3,290 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 3,269 in 2024.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1955
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 82 ft
- Area code
- 253
Algona’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Algona.
It grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Pacific (C+) comes closest.
AuburnLakeland SouthPacificAlgona
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algona | #140 | B− | C+ | B− | B− | B+ |
| Auburn | #214 | C− | D | D | B− | A− |
| Lakeland South | #162 | C+ | D | — | C | A |
| Pacific | #146 | C+ | C− | C+ | B+ | B+ |
Lakeland South reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Algona with a neighbor →
Questions about Algona
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Algona, WA a good place to live?
Algona grades B− overall, better than 47% of U.S. towns and #140 of 285 in Washington. It grades B+ for health, B− for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Algona, WA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.