# Washington (state) statistical areas

The U.S. state of Washington has 29 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated six combined statistical areas, 13 metropolitan statistical areas, and ten micropolitan statistical areas in Washington. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA, anchored by Washington's largest city, Seattle and including its capital, Olympia.
The state historically had three metropolitan areas: Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. Seattle and Tacoma were eventually merged, while other metropolitan areas were added in the 1970s and 1980s. There are 13 metropolitan areas that include areas in Washington; the largest is Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, which includes half of the state's population.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 29 United States statistical areas and 39 counties of the State of Washington :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) | Metropolitan division | 2023 population (est.) |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA | 4,044,837 | King County, Washington | 2,271,380 | Seattle-Bellevue-Kent, WA MD | 2,271,380 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA | 4,044,837 | Pierce County, Washington | 928,696 | Tacoma-Lakewood, WA MD | 928,696 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA | 4,044,837 | Snohomish County, Washington | 844,761 | Everett, WA MD | 844,761 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA | 299,003 | Thurston County, Washington | 299,003 | none | none |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA | 277,658 | Kitsap County, Washington | 277,658 | none | none |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA MSA | 131,417 | Skagit County, Washington | 131,417 | none | none |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Oak Harbor, WA μSA | 86,267 | Island County, Washington | 86,267 | none | none |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Centralia, WA μSA | 86,154 | Lewis County, Washington | 86,154 | none | none |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | Shelton, WA μSA | 68,389 | Mason County, Washington | 68,389 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Multnomah County, Oregon | 789,698 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Washington County, Oregon | 598,865 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Clark County, Washington | 521,150 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Clackamas County, Oregon | 423,173 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Yamhill County, Oregon | 108,644 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Columbia County, Oregon | 53,880 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 533,790 (WA) | Skamania County, Washington | 12,640 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Salem, OR MSA | 436,546 | Marion County, Oregon | 346,741 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Salem, OR MSA | 436,546 | Polk County, Oregon | 89,805 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Albany, OR MSA | 131,496 | Linn County, Oregon | 131,496 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Longview-Kelso, WA MSA | 112,864 | Cowlitz County, Washington | 112,864 | none | none |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 646,654 (WA) | Corvallis, OR MSA | 97,713 | Benton County, Oregon | 97,713 | none | none |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID CSA | 785,302 600,292 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA MSA | 600,292 | Spokane County, Washington | 551,455 | none | none |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID CSA | 785,302 600,292 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA MSA | 600,292 | Stevens County, Washington | 48,837 | none | none |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID CSA | 785,302 600,292 | Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA | 185,010 | Kootenai County, Idaho | 185,010 | none | none |
| Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, WA CSA | 375,821 | Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA | 314,253 | Benton County, Washington | 215,219 | none | none |
| Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, WA CSA | 375,821 | Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA | 314,253 | Franklin County, Washington | 99,034 | none | none |
| Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, WA CSA | 375,821 | Walla Walla, WA MSA | 61,568 | Walla Walla County, Washington | 61,568 | none | none |
| none | none | Yakima, WA MSA | 256,643 | Yakima County, Washington | 256,643 | none | none |
| none | none | Bellingham, WA MSA | 231,919 | Whatcom County, Washington | 231,919 | none | none |
| none | none | Wenatchee–East Wenatchee, WA MSA | 124,795 | Chelan County, Washington | 79,997 | none | none |
| none | none | Wenatchee–East Wenatchee, WA MSA | 124,795 | Douglas County, Washington | 44,798 | none | none |
| Moses Lake-Othello, WA CSA | 123,498 | Moses Lake, WA μSA | 102,678 | Grant County, Washington | 102,678 | none | none |
| Moses Lake-Othello, WA CSA | 123,498 | Othello, WA μSA | 20,820 | Adams County, Washington | 20,820 | none | none |
| none | none | Port Angeles, WA μSA | 77,616 | Clallam County, Washington | 77,616 | none | none |
| none | none | Aberdeen, WA μSA | 77,290 | Grays Harbor County, Washington | 77,290 | none | none |
| Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID CSA | 89,313 48,012 (WA) | Pullman, WA μSA | 48,012 | Whitman County, Washington | 48,012 | none | none |
| Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID CSA | 89,313 48,012 (WA) | Moscow, ID μSA | 41,301 | Latah County, Idaho | 41,301 | none | none |
| none | none | Ellensburg, WA μSA | 45,508 | Kittitas County, Washington | 45,508 | none | none |
| none | none | Port Townsend, WA μSA | 33,714 | Jefferson County, Washington | 33,714 | none | none |
| none | none | Lewiston, ID-WA MSA | 65,536 22,549 (WA) | Nez Perce County, Idaho | 42,987 | none | none |
| none | none | Lewiston, ID-WA MSA | 65,536 22,549 (WA) | Asotin County, Washington | 22,549 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Okanogan County, Washington | 43,712 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Pacific County, Washington | 24,200 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Klickitat County, Washington | 23,589 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | San Juan County, Washington | 18,566 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Pend Oreille County, Washington | 14,361 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Lincoln County, Washington | 11,738 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Ferry County, Washington | 7,497 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Wahkiakum County, Washington | 4,765 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Columbia County, Washington | 4,053 | none | none |
| none | none | none | none | Garfield County, Washington | 2,363 | none | none |
| State of Washington | State of Washington | State of Washington | State of Washington | State of Washington | 7,812,880 | none | none |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 23 core-based statistical areas of the State of Washington :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA | 4,044,837 | +0.65% | 4,018,762 | +16.83% | 3,439,809 |
| 2 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA MSA | 600,292 | +2.48% | 585,784 | +13.80% | 514,752 |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA (WA) | 533,790 | +3.58% | 515,347 | +18.08% | 436,429 |
| 4 | Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA | 314,253 | +3.50% | 303,622 | +19.85% | 253,340 |
| 5 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA | 299,003 | +1.43% | 294,793 | +16.86% | 252,264 |
| 6 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA | 277,658 | +0.74% | 275,611 | +9.75% | 251,133 |
| 7 | Yakima, WA MSA | 256,643 | −0.03% | 256,728 | +5.55% | 243,231 |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA MSA | 231,919 | +2.24% | 226,847 | +12.78% | 201,140 |
| 9 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA MSA | 131,417 | +1.46% | 129,523 | +10.80% | 116,901 |
| 10 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA MSA | 124,795 | +2.28% | 122,012 | +10.04% | 110,884 |
| 11 | Longview-Kelso, WA MSA | 112,864 | +1.93% | 110,730 | +8.12% | 102,410 |
| 12 | Moses Lake, WA μSA | 102,678 | +3.59% | 99,123 | +11.22% | 89,120 |
| 13 | Oak Harbor, WA μSA | 86,267 | −0.68% | 86,857 | +10.64% | 78,506 |
| 14 | Centralia, WA μSA | 86,154 | +4.88% | 82,149 | +8.87% | 75,455 |
| 15 | Port Angeles, WA μSA | 77,616 | +0.60% | 77,155 | +8.05% | 71,404 |
| 16 | Aberdeen, WA μSA | 77,290 | +2.19% | 75,636 | +3.90% | 72,797 |
| 17 | Shelton, WA μSA | 68,389 | +4.05% | 65,726 | +8.28% | 60,699 |
| 18 | Walla Walla, WA MSA | 61,568 | −1.62% | 62,584 | +6.47% | 58,781 |
| 19 | Pullman, WA μSA | 48,012 | +0.08% | 47,973 | +7.14% | 44,776 |
| 20 | Ellensburg, WA μSA | 45,508 | +2.64% | 44,337 | +8.36% | 40,915 |
| 21 | Port Townsend, WA μSA | 33,714 | +2.23% | 32,977 | +10.39% | 29,872 |
| 22 | Lewiston, ID-WA MSA (WA) | 22,549 | +1.18% | 22,285 | +3.06% | 21,623 |
| 23 | Othello, WA μSA | 20,820 | +1.00% | 20,613 | +10.07% | 18,728 |
| | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA | 2,508,050 | −0.19% | 2,512,859 | +12.89% | 2,226,009 |
| | Lewiston, ID-WA MSA | 65,536 | +1.80% | 64,375 | +5.73% | 60,888 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The six combined statistical areas of the State of Washington :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA | 4,993,725 | +0.81% | 4,953,421 | +15.88% | 4,274,767 |
| 2 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA (WA) | 646,654 | +3.29% | 626,077 | +16.19% | 538,839 |
| 3 | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID CSA | 600,292 | +2.48% | 585,784 | +13.80% | 514,752 |
| 4 | Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, WA CSA | 375,821 | +2.63% | 366,206 | +17.33% | 312,121 |
| 5 | Moses Lake-Othello, WA CSA | 123,498 | +3.14% | 119,736 | +11.02% | 107,848 |
| 6 | Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID CSA (WA) | 48,012 | +0.08% | 47,973 | +7.14% | 44,776 |
| | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA CSA | 3,286,669 | +0.18% | 3,280,736 | +12.30% | 2,921,408 |
| | Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID CSA | 89,313 | +2.08% | 87,490 | +6.67% | 82,020 |
| | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID CSA | 785,302 | +3.72% | 757,146 | +15.91% | 653,246 |