Seattle Culture
Housing Growth is Happening in This City
Kent is the region’s second fastest-growing housing market
By Rob Smith February 1, 2025
The iconic TV show Almost Live constantly poked fun at Kent (and, in fairness, most other things Seattle) 30 years ago for its blue-collar roots and lack of amenities.
But if you want to buy a house, you may want to look at Kent. The South King County city is second only to Seattle in terms of adding housing stock the past 20 years.
The number of single-family homes in Kent has grown by 69%, ranking No. 17 in the United States. That’s in stark contrast to Seattle, where multifamily units have surged 130%, compared to a modest 6% growth in single-family housing, according to StorageCafe.
When considering all housing, Kent — which now has about 134,000 residents, or 57% more than 20 years ago — has recorded a 42% increase in stock since 2005. Seattle is at 44%. Vancouver, Bellevue and Bellingham round out the top five, though Kent’s single-family housing growth far outpaces that of the other cities.
Affordability, though, remains elusive. Redfin reports that the median sales price in Kent was $686,000 in December, up 10.5% from the same period in 2023.
Follow Us
Microsoft Awards $5M Worth Of Grants To AI innovators
The grants are part of the company’s 50th anniversary this year
Microsoft has given 20 organizations $50,000 each as part of its AI for Good grants program. The grants — part of an initiative to celebrate Microsoft’s 50th anniversary this year — recognize organizations for their innovations in artificial intelligence. The organizations — who applied for the grants earlier this year — receive resources to help…
Seattle Commute Survey Shows More Office Activity
Both transit travel and driving trips are on the rise
Downtown Seattle foot traffic still isn’t nearly what it was prior to the pandemic, but more people are commuting to offices on a regular basis. The 2024 Commute Seattle Survey finds that both transit travel and drive-alone trips are on the rise as remote working drops. Citywide, the percentage of people reporting that their jobs…
Seattle Pride Seeks Support As Sponsorships Dry Up
The nonprofit has launched a fundraising campaign to make up for a $350,000 deficit
For Patti Hearn, no amount is too small. Every little bit helps. Hearn, executive director of Seattle Pride, is working feverishly to bridge a $350,000 fundraising gap because of shifts in corporate sponsorship. Seattle Pride — a nonprofit foundation that produces the annual Seattle Pride Parade and a slew of other events, including Seattle Pride…
Tapped Out
Washington lawmakers propose doubling beer and wine taxes
You might be paying significantly more for your pint next year. House Bill 2079, introduced by Representative Lauren Davis (D–District 32), would raise the tax on beer from $4.78 to $9.56 per barrel for most breweries. The bill also proposes doubling taxes on wine from 1 cent to 2 cents per liter and increasing taxes…