The Seattle metropolitan area is an urban conglomeration in the U.S. state of Washington that comprises Seattle, its surrounding satellites and suburbs. It contains the three most populous counties in the state—King, Snohomish, and Pierce—and is considered part of the greater Puget Sound region. The United States Census Bureau defines the metropolitan area as the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area. With an estimated population of 4,102,400 as of 2022^[update],[1] it is the 15th largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States and is home to over half of Washington's population.

Seattle metropolitan area
Metropolitan statistical area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA
Downtown Seattle skyline as seen from the Kerry Park in October 2019
A map of the Seattle MSA, highlighted in teal (the Combined Statistical Area is in navy blue)
Coordinates: 47°44′N 122°19′W
Country	United States
State	Washington (state)
Largest city	Seattle (762,500)
Other cities	- Tacoma (220,800)  - Bellevue (153,900)  - Kent (137,900)  - Everett (113,300)  - Renton (107,500)
Area
• Total	5,872.35 sq mi (15,209.3 km2)
Highest elevation	14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Lowest elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population
• Total	4,102,400
• Rank	15th in the U.S.
• Density	700/sq mi (270/km2)

Definition

As defined by the United States Census Bureau, the Seattle metropolitan area is made up of the following (see Fig. STB):

• Seattle–Bellevue–Everett metropolitan division
  • King County: Seattle and its immediate vicinity
  • Snohomish County: north of Seattle
• Tacoma metropolitan division
  • Pierce County: south of Seattle

Based on commuting patterns, the adjacent metropolitan areas of Olympia, Bremerton, and Mount Vernon, along with a few smaller satellite urban areas, are grouped together in a wider labor market region known as the Seattle–Tacoma Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (See Figure STO), commonly known as the Puget Sound region. The population of this wider region is 4,686,536—roughly two-thirds of Washington's population—as of 2017^[update].[1] The Seattle CSA is the 14th largest CSA, and the 13th largest primary census statistical area in the country. The additional metropolitan and micropolitan areas included are:

• Bremerton–Silverdale metropolitan area
  • Kitsap County: west of Seattle, separated from the city by Puget Sound; connected to Seattle by ferry and to Tacoma by the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
• Olympia metropolitan area
  • Thurston County: southwest of Seattle, at the south end of Puget Sound
• Mount Vernon–Anacortes metropolitan area
  • Skagit County
• Oak Harbor micropolitan area
  • Island County: northwest of Everett, encompassing Whidbey and Camano Islands in Puget Sound
• Shelton micropolitan area
  • Mason County: west of Tacoma and northwest of Olympia

Demographics

As of the 2020 census there was 4,018,762 people in the area.[2] In 2019 the estimated median income for a household in the Seattle metropolitan area was $94,027. The per capita income was $49,184.[3]

Religion

According to the Pew Research Center's 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study, the Seattle metropolitan area's religious affiliation is as follows:[4]

Cities

Major

• Seattle
• Tacoma
• Bellevue
• Kent
• Everett

Other

Commerce

The Seattle metropolitan area is home to numerous large scale businesses.[5] Retail giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, REI, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Costco were founded and continue to be headquartered in the greater Seattle area.[5]

Over the past decade, tech companies began expanding their roots into the Seattle metropolitan area and opening offices on both sides of Lake Washington (Seattle and Bellevue, primarily). These companies, traditionally known for their history in Silicon Valley and the bay area, include Facebook, Salesforce, Google, and Zynga.[6]

Transportation

Major airports

The largest airport in the region is Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, an International airport that serves as a commercial hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The other airports in the area are:

• Paine Field (passenger and general)[7]
• Boeing Field (passenger and cargo)
• Harvey Airfield (general)
• Renton Municipal Airport (general)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 2
• Interstate 5
• State Route 7
• State Route 9
• State Route 16
• State Route 18
• Interstate 90
• State Route 99
• U.S. Route 101
• State Route 202
• Interstate 405
• State Route 520
• State Route 522
• Interstate 605 (proposed)
• Interstate 705

Mass transit

• Sound Transit, trains, buses, light rail in Puget Sound area
• Community Transit, buses in Snohomish County except Everett
• King County Metro, buses in King County
• Pierce Transit, buses in Pierce County
• Everett Transit, bus service in the city of Everett
• Intercity Transit, bus service in Thurston County
• Mason Transit Authority, bus service in Mason County
• Seattle Streetcar, streetcar service in the city of Seattle
• Seattle Center Monorail

References