Assets
Asset poverty rate: 21.50%
Average college graduate debt: $26,207
Unbanked households: 3.10%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 6%
Food insecurity: 10.40%
Minimum wage: $13.69
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: N/A
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 113,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 6.40%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 0.10%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 23.40%
Poverty rate: 9.80%
Unemployment rate: 4.70%
Education
High school graduation rate: 86.70%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 90.70%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 50%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 36.70%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 7%
Family
Children in foster care: 10,909
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 138,793
Percent of children in immigrant families: 29%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 25%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 12.70%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.45%
People experiencing homelessness: 22,923
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 238,200
Percent renters: 37%
Total housing units: 2,932,477
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 250
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 693
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 65,152
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 296,000
EITC recipients: 405,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 19,800
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 103,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 77,664
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 867,721
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 123,501
Participants in all Head Start programs: 12,846
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 12%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 24,000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: N/A
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 184,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 24%
Senior poverty rate: 7.50%
Women in poverty: 10.80%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Washington policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Work Supports