RANK #939 / 1001 NAT · #20 / 21 WA · POP 844,430
1YR FORECAST: -1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Snohomish County, Washington, offers a distinctive blend of natural beauty and community character, situated between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, about 30 minutes north of Seattle. The city of Snohomish, known as the "Antique Capital of the Northwest," features a walkable historic downtown with antique dealers, boutiques, and local eateries. The county boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including over 400 lakes, major river systems for kayaking and rafting, and numerous parks with miles of trails for hiking and biking. Popular spots include the 30-mile Centennial Trail and Lord Hill Regional Park, offering forested trails for various activities.
Life in Snohomish County appeals to families and individuals seeking a balance between natural surroundings and access to urban amenities. Commute options to Seattle are available via public transportation, including bus and Sounder Commuter Rail services. The county's economy is significantly driven by the aerospace industry, with Boeing's largest aircraft manufacturing complex located in Everett, the county seat. Other key sectors include agriculture, life sciences, and technology manufacturing. Snohomish County also has multiple school districts, such as Everett Public Schools and Snohomish School District, which prepare students for post-secondary education.
Snohomish County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.7% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 23.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Snohomish County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #939 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +0.6% and median household income of $111,246 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Snohomish County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $696,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,949/month on average.
Snohomish County's population is growing — up +1.2% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.6%). Home values shifted -1.7% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.5% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Snohomish County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.