Find out what the numbers tell us about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Times' FYI Guy, Gene Balk, and other contributors comb data sets to look at the numbers behind news topics -- especially those that offer insight into the quality of life and cost of living in the Seattle area.
It's blockbuster season, and local film buffs face steep ticket prices — though moviegoing remains one of Seattle's cheaper line items, writes FYI Guy.
Washington climbed to 9th in the 2026 "Best States" rankings, excelling in natural environment but held back by high costs and unemployment, writes FYI Guy.
IRS data shows King County is still gaining population from out-of-state arrivals, but losing a greater number to other Washington counties, writes FYI Guy.
New census data shows King County has more men than women, one of only nine such counties among the 100 most populous in the U.S.,...
Nielsen data shows a record 35% of Seattle households use a credit union as their primary bank, a sustained exodus sparked by 2011 megabank fees,...
Seattle’s population hit 823,400 in 2026, but growth slowed to 0.8% — a sharp drop from earlier this decade, FYI Guy writes.
New census data shows Washington is graying. From 2020-25, the number of older adults increased 16% while the number of kids under 18 fell 3%,...
New data shows King County is on the verge of having no racial majority, driven primarily by a shrinking white and booming Asian population, writes...
Survey results, released by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, also show 64% of the homeless population lives outside of shelters.
Seattle lost its No. 1 ranking among major U.S. cities for the share of households that are same-sex couples, as Portland claimed the top spot,...
For a city known as a soccer stronghold, Nielsen data shows Seattle’s 2022 World Cup TV viewership was surprisingly average among host cities, writes FYI...
See where wildfires are burning near you on our map tracking active fires and air quality in the Pacific Northwest.
New census data shows King County's least air-conditioned neighborhood is in Seattle, while its most air-conditioned is on the Eastside, FYI Guy writes.
New survey data shows locals are returning to Seattle attractions after a slump, with some spots beating prepandemic attendance peaks, FYI Guy writes.
Seattle ranks near the bottom of major U.S. metros for debt-free homes, due to high housing costs and a relatively young workforce, writes FYI Guy.
The implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. pulp mill in Longview, Wa. is among the worst workplace disasters in state history, writes FYI Guy.
Seattle ranks 8th on the 2026 ParkScore index, driven by high funding and 99% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, writes...
Seattle's population boom of the 2010s has cooled this decade, with the fastest growth shifting out toward the transit-friendly suburbs, writes FYI Guy.
Washington is gaining young, single and well-educated movers from other states, but losing older Washington residents and those born in-state, FYI Guy writes.
Though the city's growth has cooled slightly, it remains the fourth-fastest growing major city in the U.S., writes FYI Guy.