The 10 Washington Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2024


The most African American cities in Washington are SeaTac and Tukwila for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About RoadSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

Most African American cities in Washington research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to analyze Washington’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in Washington based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in Washington is SeaTac based on the most recent Census data.

  • SeaTac is 23.86% Black.

  • The least African American city in Washington is Prosser.

  • Prosser is 0.0% Black.

  • Washington is 3.8% Black.

  • Washington is the 35th blackest state in the United States.

Cities With Highest Black Population In Washington Map

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Washington is 290,907 – at 3.8% of the total population of Washington.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted Washington? Which cities and towns in Washington have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Washington with the largest African American population in 2024:

Most African American Places In Washington

  1. SeaTac
  2. Tukwila
  3. Federal Way
  4. Lakewood
  5. Kent
  6. Pacific
  7. Fife
  8. Tacoma
  9. Des Moines
  10. Lynnwood

What’s the blackest city in Washington? The city with the largest Black population in Washington for 2024 is SeaTac. See if SeaTac ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Washington or the most diverse places in Washington.

The 10 Blackest Cities In Washington For 2024

1. Seatac

Seatac, WA

Source: Wikipedia User SounderBruce from Seattle, United States | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 30,927
% African American: 23.86%
# Of African American Residents: 7,378
Percent Change Since 2010: 78.99%
More on Seatac: Data | Cost Of Living

2. Tukwila

Tukwila, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 21,569
% African American: 17.04%
# Of African American Residents: 3,675
Percent Change Since 2010: 33.98%
More on Tukwila: Data | Cost Of Living

3. Federal Way

Federal Way, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 99,614
% African American: 16.17%
# Of African American Residents: 16,105
Percent Change Since 2010: 113.74%
More on Federal Way: Data | Cost Of Living

4. Lakewood

Lakewood, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Kgrr | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 63,142
% African American: 13.72%
# Of African American Residents: 8,661
Percent Change Since 2010: 17.06%
More on Lakewood: Data | Cost Of Living

5. Kent

Kent, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 135,169
% African American: 12.61%
# Of African American Residents: 17,048
Percent Change Since 2010: 83.13%
More on Kent: Data | Cost Of Living

6. Pacific

Pacific, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Steven Pavlov | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 7,097
% African American: 11.7%
# Of African American Residents: 830
Percent Change Since 2010: 738.38%
More on Pacific: Data | Cost Of Living

7. Fife

Fife, WA

Source: Wikipedia User SounderBruce | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 10,887
% African American: 11.35%
# Of African American Residents: 1,236
Percent Change Since 2010: 38.41%
More on Fife: Data | Cost Of Living

8. Tacoma

Tacoma, WA

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 219,234
% African American: 10.09%
# Of African American Residents: 22,121
Percent Change Since 2010: 0.45%
More on Tacoma: Data | Cost Of Living

9. Des Moines

Des Moines, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 32,667
% African American: 9.57%
# Of African American Residents: 3,126
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.2%
More on Des Moines: Data | Cost Of Living

10. Lynnwood

Lynnwood, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 39,867
% African American: 8.41%
# Of African American Residents: 3,354
Percent Change Since 2010: 66.7%
More on Lynnwood: Data | Cost Of Living

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Washington With The Largest Black Population For 2024

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Washington.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 6,000 people in Washington. That left us with 115 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 23.9% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. SeaTac took the distinction of being the most Black, while Prosser was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in Washington with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Washington ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across Washington

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Washington according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

The blackest cities in Washington are SeaTac, Tukwila, Federal Way, Lakewood, Kent, Pacific, Fife, Tacoma, Des Moines, and Lynnwood.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Washington:

  1. Prosser
  2. Stanwood
  3. Union Gap

For more Washington reading, check out:

African American Population By City In Washington

Rank City Population African American Population % African American
1 Seatac 30,927 7,378 23.86%
2 Tukwila 21,569 3,675 17.04%
3 Federal Way 99,614 16,105 16.17%
4 Lakewood 63,142 8,661 13.72%
5 Kent 135,169 17,048 12.61%
6 Pacific 7,097 830 11.7%
7 Fife 10,887 1,236 11.35%
8 Tacoma 219,234 22,121 10.09%
9 Des Moines 32,667 3,126 9.57%
10 Lynnwood 39,867 3,354 8.41%
11 Renton 105,355 8,671 8.23%
12 Burien 51,505 4,053 7.87%
13 Dupont 9,955 752 7.55%
14 Auburn 85,623 6,269 7.32%
15 University Place 34,696 2,447 7.05%
16 Seattle 734,603 48,754 6.64%
17 Covington 20,814 1,337 6.42%
18 Everett 110,847 7,062 6.37%
19 Shoreline 58,673 3,598 6.13%
20 Brier 6,539 364 5.57%
21 Airway Heights 10,570 578 5.47%
22 Lacey 56,263 2,985 5.31%
23 Steilacoom 6,680 352 5.27%
24 Oak Harbor 24,458 1,269 5.19%
25 Bremerton 43,983 2,269 5.16%
26 Lake Forest Park 13,462 658 4.89%
27 Mountlake Terrace 21,350 1,023 4.79%
28 Mill Creek 20,797 921 4.43%
29 Fircrest 7,098 281 3.96%
30 Puyallup 42,610 1,548 3.63%
31 Tumwater 25,617 903 3.53%
32 Yelm 10,438 358 3.43%
33 Moses Lake 25,155 810 3.22%
34 Walla Walla 33,842 967 2.86%
35 Lake Stevens 38,816 1,104 2.84%
36 Cheney 12,848 363 2.83%
37 Monroe 19,632 524 2.67%
38 Vancouver 190,700 5,013 2.63%
39 Olympia 55,151 1,443 2.62%
40 Bellevue 150,606 3,846 2.55%
41 Spokane 227,922 5,813 2.55%
42 Sequim 8,073 199 2.47%
43 Pullman 31,972 787 2.46%
44 Newcastle 12,931 292 2.26%
45 Kenmore 23,611 528 2.24%
46 Kennewick 83,823 1,817 2.17%
47 Redmond 73,728 1,548 2.1%
48 Poulsbo 11,824 244 2.06%
49 Edmonds 42,705 850 1.99%
50 Marysville 70,847 1,394 1.97%
51 Camas 26,387 506 1.92%
52 Chehalis 7,512 144 1.92%
53 Maple Valley 27,889 495 1.77%
54 Clarkston 7,222 128 1.77%
55 Issaquah 39,400 689 1.75%
56 Pasco 77,274 1,322 1.71%
57 Arlington 20,263 333 1.64%
58 Port Orchard 15,820 254 1.61%
59 Burlington 9,361 143 1.53%
60 Kelso 12,661 191 1.51%
61 Kirkland 92,015 1,362 1.48%
62 Woodinville 13,301 196 1.47%
63 Milton 8,543 125 1.46%
64 Richland 60,867 887 1.46%
65 Sammamish 66,586 961 1.44%
66 Spokane Valley 103,761 1,492 1.44%
67 Mukilteo 21,365 297 1.39%
68 Edgewood 12,397 172 1.39%
69 Ellensburg 19,003 246 1.29%
70 Yakima 96,764 1,246 1.29%
71 Mercer Island 25,464 324 1.27%
72 Bellingham 91,353 1,153 1.26%
73 Bonney Lake 22,590 285 1.26%
74 Normandy Park 6,697 84 1.25%
75 Hoquiam 8,742 102 1.17%
76 Woodland 6,463 72 1.11%
77 West Richland 16,547 184 1.11%
78 Mount Vernon 35,120 376 1.07%
79 Longview 37,722 397 1.05%
80 Washougal 16,828 175 1.04%
81 Ephrata 8,419 75 0.89%
82 Selah 8,203 73 0.89%
83 Wenatchee 35,365 314 0.89%
84 Centralia 18,234 158 0.87%
85 Lynden 15,723 135 0.86%
86 Sumner 10,589 90 0.85%
87 Bothell 47,917 400 0.83%
88 Port Townsend 10,161 81 0.8%
89 Shelton 10,484 78 0.74%
90 Aberdeen 16,969 113 0.67%
91 Sedro-Woolley 12,470 80 0.64%
92 Port Angeles 20,007 124 0.62%
93 Duvall 8,128 50 0.62%
94 Snoqualmie 13,762 81 0.59%
95 Orting 8,898 52 0.58%
96 Anacortes 17,667 99 0.56%
97 Gig Harbor 11,917 64 0.54%
98 Enumclaw 12,630 65 0.51%
99 East Wenatchee 14,065 56 0.4%
100 Snohomish 10,133 39 0.38%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Black Population, Rankings

One thought on “The 10 Washington Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2024”

  1. I think you missed the city of Silverdale.
    Population of 19,204 in 2010 census
    % African American = 3.24% in 2010 census

    Reply

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