Streetlamp -10, 2011
Burien’s story
107 years in pictures
Census counts: 23,189 in 1980, 52,066 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 4 maps from 1949 on.
- 1919Burien is settled
Population
51,859
2025 Census estimate · −0.4% since 2020
Typical home
$625K
−0.3% in a year
Household income
$91K
median
Median age
40.4
years
Jobs based here
12,982
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#243 of 285 in WA
Is Burien a good place to live?
Burien grades D overall, 243rd of 285 graded towns in Washington, mostly because of safety and schools. It reports more crime per resident than 89% of U.S. towns, including 171 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Its schools rank behind 79% of the state's. In its favor, residents are healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Burien is more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns. Ed Munro Seahurst Park, at 204 acres with 4.1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Homes are expensive, about $625K for a typical one and 5.4 times the Seattle metro’s $115K median household income.
What makes Burien stand out
Where Burien beats most towns.
A growing town
Burien has grown 56% since 2010
33,313 counted in 2010 and 52,066 in 2020; an estimated 51,859 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 56.3% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Burien grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Burien is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 95% of comparable towns) to D for safety (better than 11%), so the D overall blends very different results.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.8 of 20; 8.9% of households have no carA+Open →SafetyDOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →HealthHighline Medical Center 1.3 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsC−Open →Jobs & income$91K median household income; 12,982 jobs based hereBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5% conserved landA−Open →History8 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life3.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$625K typical home, down 0.3% in a year; 9 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.4–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 156 attractions →Space Needle and 136 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Burien. Close and well known come first.
Big draw10 mi LookoutSpace Needle
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaLumen Field
Big draw10 mi Stadium & arenaClimate Pledge Arena
8 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile Park
9 mi Ancient siteSeattle Underground
12 mi Stadium & arenaHusky StadiumSources: 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 · T-Mobile Park: MyName (Cacophony), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Seattle Underground: Mark Hursh, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Husky Stadium: Atomic Taco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Burien: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Burien, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of MiltonEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterKing County Water District #20No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpRecologyTrash haulerTown 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 codes98166, 98168, 98146, 9814898166 31% · 98168 29% · 98146 25% · 98148 16%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 Burien.
Burien has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns and has seen reported crime fall by a third or more.
SafetyD
Burien’s grade for safety is a D
Reported crimes fell from 2,149 to 1,437 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The violent offense rate in Burien is 3.3 per 1,000 residents. The town’s level of property crime stands at 24.3 per 1,000 residents, above both Washington’s towns (15) and U.S. towns (9.9).
11%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 24.3 per 1,000 residents | 15 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.3 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Burien3.3
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Burien24.3
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
11th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
19th
percentile among WA towns
171
violent crimes reported in 2025
1,266
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC−
Burien’s grade for schools is a C−
Below: Two of its 24 schools, each with why it was picked. Its public schools are run by the Highline School District. The 6 public schools in Burien teach 2,680 students between them.
21%of WA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvester Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 582 | – |
| Highline High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,423 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Burien’s grade for health is an A−
10% of adults smoke cigarettes in Burien, against 11% in Washington’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. The share of adults in Burien who had a checkup this year: 70%. Against the Washington average, Burien comes out ahead on 3 CDC measures out of 31, and behind on 9.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 33% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 71% | 79% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 11% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Washington
3 better19 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Burien | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with obesity | 26.4% | 30.6% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7% | 7.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 11.5% | 8.4% |
Highline Medical Center
1.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
68th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsA−
Open space protected for good: 4.6% of Burien
Burien’s density of trails comes in at 1.0 miles per square mile. Trails run 11 miles in 21 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in the town: 21, covering 392 acres.
#115for trails in WA
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.0 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.6% | 4% | 4.3% |
4.6%
conserved · 328 of 7,117 acres
11 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ed Munro Seahurst Park | 4.1 mi | 204 |
| 2. Salmon Creek Ravine Park | 2 mi | 91 |
| 3. Lake Burien School Memorial Park | 0.4 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
With only 0.6 jobs per working resident, most people in Burien work out of town
For workers in Burien, the share who work from home is 19%. Just 6% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. The top destinations are Seattle (40%), SeaTac (6%) and Bellevue (5%).
6%work in town
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 19% | 15% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $91,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Burien6%
Seattle40%
SeaTac6%
Bellevue5%
Renton5%
9 mi
median commute distance
12,982
jobs based in Burien
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Natural hazards: high risk in Burien, mostly earthquakes
Since 1996, 12 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Burien. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 78% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 85% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to earthquakes, and 13% to inland flooding. Federal aid has come to Burien households in 9 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025.
78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
12
paid flood claims since 1996
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Burien has four seasons and pleasant summers
July afternoons average 76.3°, cooler than in 98% of U.S. towns; January nights average 36.2°.
About 6 inches of snow falls in a winter. In Burien, the peak summer temperature is 76°F.
6″snow a winter
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 76°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 36°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter36–48°
Spring42–59°
Summer54–74°
Fall45–61°
Nov 23
typical first frost
Mar 2
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Washington overall
Among adults 25 and older, 33% have a four-year degree or more, against 40% across Washington. Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (38% statewide). In Burien, 21% of residents are under 18.
40.4median age · WA 38.3
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 21% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 30% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 16% | 18% |
BurienWashingtonUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma15%
High school21%
Some college20%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.6 points. Across Washington, 49.6% of residents are women. Median age: women 40.7, men 40.0.
| Burien | WA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.8% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.9% | 9.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.2% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.2% | 15.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16% | 14.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.3% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.7% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.8% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.1% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 15% | 7.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.2% | 21.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.5% | 21% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.1% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.7% | 24% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.5% | 15.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade D
Burien’s grade for cost of living is a D
A typical home in Burien is worth about $625,000, about the same as a year ago, 6% above the Washington typical home. Among households here, 57% live in a home they own. In Burien, the median rent is $1,782 a month.
$625KZillow home value
| Burien | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 57% | 71% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,782 a month | $1,737 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 52% | 51% | 48% |
Typical home value
Burien$625K
Washington$588K
Market temperature
9
days on market
100.3%
sale-to-list price
−0.3%
value change, 1 year
30
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Burien
20pages on Burien
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 79% of WA districts · 24 schoolsSafetyD3.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than WA on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$625K typical home · down 0.3% in a yearWork & commuteB$91K median household income · 12,982 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 78% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
17 within 15 miles of the center of Burien
Seattle Institute of East Asian MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Seattle4.9 miSouth Seattle CollegeCommunity college · Public · Seattle5 mi$5,238 in-state tuitionBellevue CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Bellevue11.8 mi$4,436 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Burien residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Burien for work
Where Burien’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
12,982jobs based in Burien
6%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Burien
8 notable people were born in Burien.
C
Cris LewisAmerican soccer player · born 1988
D
Danny RoblesAssociation football player · born 2002C
Cole MadisonAmerican football player · born 1994D
Dale DorningFormer American football player · born 1962Burien’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Burien.
SeaTacTukwilaNormandy ParkBoulevard ParkWhite CenterSeattleDes MoinesBurien
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burien | #243 | D | D | D | C− | A− |
| SeaTac | #245 | D | C− | D | C− | A− |
| Tukwila | #236 | C− | C− | D− | C+ | A− |
| Normandy Park | #107 | B | D | B− | C− | A+ |
| Boulevard Park | #142 | B− | C− | — | A− | B− |
| White Center | #191 | C | D | — | C− | A− |
| Seattle | #128 | B− | D | D− | A | A+ |
| Des Moines | #235 | C− | D | C− | C− | A− |
Boulevard Park and White Center report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Burien with a neighbor →
Questions about Burien
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Burien, WA a good place to live?
Burien grades D overall, better than 15% of U.S. towns and #243 of 285 in Washington. It grades A− for health, D for safety and C− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Burien, WA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Burien, WA known for?
8 notable people were born here, including Jill Kintner and Cris Lewis.