| Lee Jones (206) 220-5356 (work) (804) 363-7018 (cell) | For
Release Friday October 15, 2010 |
HUD RELEASES 2009 HOUSING SURVEY OF SEATTLE-TACOMA
METROPOLITAN AREA
Deputy Secretary Sims says report shows "significant growth," but also "significantly higher" housing costs in Seattle-Tacoma area
SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released its 2009 Seattle Metropolitan Area Housing Survey, the most comprehensive analysis of the area's housing stock since the Department's last substantive assessment in 2004. HUD estimates that there were nearly 1.5 million housing units
in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties in 2009, more than 15 percent of which were constructed since 2000 (see attached data).
"It's no secret the Seattle-Tacoma area has seen significant growth, most especially within the past decade," said HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims. "The numbers also reveal what many longtime residents already know - monthly housing costs are significantly higher than in most other areas of the nation."
Based on in-depth interviews with more than 2,000 households, HUD estimates there were 1,458,000 residential housing units in the Seattle area in 2009. More than 91 percent of these units were occupied and 7.9 percent were reported as vacant.
The median monthly cost of housing in the Seattle metro area was $1,320 in 2009 compared to the national median
of $922. This places the Seattle metropolitan area at the 70th percentile nationwide in monthly housing costs.
HUD's survey also found that in 2009, more than 84 percent of Seattle-area homes had at least two bedrooms and nearly 60 percent had three or more. In addition, more than 99 percent of homes had more than one bathroom and more than half contained two or more.
HUD's data files are intended for use by economists, housing analysts and others in the research community. The Census Bureau expects to release a more comprehensive narrative report on these data later this fall.
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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
Composition of Housing
| Housing | Units | Percentage |
| All Units | 1,458,000 | 100.0 |
| Total Occupied | 1,332,000 | 91.4 |
| Owner Occupied | 842,000 | 57.8 |
| Renter Occupied | 489,000 | 33.6 |
| Vacant | 116,000 | 7.9 |
| Type of Housing Unit | ||
| Single-family detached | 882,000 | 60.5 |
| Single-family attached | 66,000 | 4.5 |
| Multifamily | 457,000 | 31.3 |
| 2-4 units | 94,000 | 6.4 |
| 5-9 units | 80,000 | 5.5 |
| 10-19 units | 105,000 | 7.2 |
| 20-49 units | 85,000 | 5.8 |
| 50 or more units | 93,000 | 6.4 |
| Manufactured (mobile) | 53,000 | 3.6 |
Age of Housing
| Year Built | Units | Percentage |
| 2005-09 | 74,000 | 5.1 |
| 2000-04 | 149,000 | 10.2 |
| 1995-99 | 106,000 | 7.3 |
| 1990-94 | 120,000 | 8.2 |
| 1985-89 | 125,000 | 8.6 |
| 1980-84 | 90,000 | 6.2 |
| 1975-79 | 142,000 | 9.7 |
| 1970-74 | 116,000 | 7.9 |
| 1960-69 | 167,000 | 11.5 |
| 1950-59 | 126,000 | 8.7 |
| 1940-49 | 86,000 | 5.9 |
| 1930-39 | 39,000 | 2.6 |
| 1920-29 | 58,000 | 4.0 |
| Pre-1919 | 61,000 | 4.2 |
| Median = 1975 | ||
Monthly Housing Costs of All Occupied Units
| All | Owner Occupied | Renter Occupied | ||||
| Cost ($) | Units | Percentage | Units | Percentage | Units | Percentage |
| All | 1,331,700 | 100.0 | 842,300 | 100.0 | 489,400 | 100.0 |
| No Cash Rent | 8,400 | 0.6 | NA | NA | 8,400 | 1.7 |
| Less than 100 | 3,400 | 0.3 | 1,200 | 0.1 | 2,200 | 0.5 |
| 100-199 | 20,600 | 1.5 | 12,000 | 1.4 | 8,700 | 1.8 |
| 200-249 | 19,300 | 1.5 | 10,000 | 1.2 | 9,400 | 1.9 |
| 250-299 | 15,400 | 1.2 | 7,900 | 0.9 | 7,500 | 1.5 |
| 300-349 | 10,900 | 0.8 | 6,600 | 0.8 | 4,300 | 0.9 |
| 350-399 | 10,700 | 0.8 | 10,000 | 1.2 | 700 | 0.1 |
| 400-449 | 16,200 | 1.2 | 10,300 | 1.2 | 5,900 | 1.2 |
| 450-499 | 27,900 | 2.1 | 18,300 | 2.2 | 9,500 | 1.9 |
| 500-599 | 51,100 | 3.8 | 33,500 | 4.0 | 17,600 | 3.6 |
| 600-699 | 71,200 | 5.3 | 38,600 | 4.6 | 32,500 | 6.6 |
| 700-799 | 73,100 | 5.5 | 36,200 | 4.3 | 37,000 | 7.6 |
| 800-999 | 143,800 | 10.8 | 55,100 | 6.5 | 88,700 | 18.1 |
| 1,000-1,249 | 158,800 | 11.9 | 63,800 | 7.6 | 95,100 | 19.4 |
| 1,250-1,499 | 127,700 | 9.6 | 66,700 | 7.9 | 61,000 | 12.5 |
| 1,500 or more | 573,200 | 43.0 | 472,200 | 56.1 | 100,900 | 20.6 |
| Seattle Area Median | $1,320 | $1,644 | $1,016 | |||
| National Median | $922 | $1,051 | $784 | |||
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