Seattle Ranks Among the Best US Cities for Immigrants

Despite the ongoing national debate about immigration policy, the United States remains one of the world’s biggest magnets for immigrants. Foreign nationals enter the country via numerous ways, but the general motives are the same: they come to the U.S. seeking better opportunities for themselves and their children.

Immigrants who come to the U.S. have many cities to choose from where to put their roots. Some choose to live in areas where previous immigrants from their home country have already established a community. But these may not always necessarily be the best options.

The recent report “Immigrants and Opportunity in America’s Cities” from The George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, reviewed 12 key indicators in America’s 100 most populous metropolitan areas to identify the communities where immigrants are thriving.

According to the report, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington, metro area ranks as the fourth best city for immigrants. Seattle is home to an estimated 771,758 people who were born in foreign countries, accounting for 19.2% of the total population. From 2010 through 2021, immigration accounted for net population growth of 221,774 people, driving overall population growth up by 6.4%.

Economic prosperity is likely drawing many new Americans to Seattle. The typical household headed by a foreign-born resident earns $90,787 per year, and the homeownership rate among the area’s foreign born residents stands at 54.2%. These and other socioeconomic measures compare relatively favorably against the metro area population as a whole. The median household income and homeownership rate across all residents in the Seattle area stand at $90,790 and 60.2%, respectively.

All data in this story is from The George W. Bush Institute. A full methodology and documentation of sources is available on pages 72 and 73 of the report.