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Demographics of Lakewood, WA
Affluence Level in Lakewood, WA
A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.
People of Lakewood, WA
The people of Lakewood, Washington, today form a densely packed, racially diverse suburban city of 63,034 residents, marked by a strong military and working-class identity. With a population that is 44.1% White, 20.2% Hispanic, 12.7% Black, and 7.0% East/Southeast Asian, Lakewood is one of the most ethnically varied cities in Pierce County. Its character is shaped by a high proportion of renters, a relatively low college attainment rate of 22.6%, and a deep connection to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), which anchors the local economy and population churn.
How the city was settled and grew
Lakewood’s human history is a 20th-century story, not a pioneer one. The area was originally inhabited by the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes, but the modern city did not incorporate until 1996. The first major population wave arrived during and after World War II, driven by the establishment of Fort Lewis (now JBLM) in 1917 and McChord Field in 1938. The Lakewood Colonial Center neighborhood, built in the 1940s and 1950s, was one of the first planned residential areas, housing military families and defense workers. These early residents were overwhelmingly White, drawn by steady government employment and affordable housing. The post-war boom also saw the development of Springbrook, a neighborhood of modest single-family homes that became a landing pad for veterans and their families. By 1960, the area’s population was nearly 95% White, reflecting the military’s demographic makeup at the time.
Modern era (post-1965)
The 1965 Hart-Cellar Act opened immigration from Asia and Latin America, but Lakewood’s transformation accelerated later, driven by domestic migration and military diversification. The 1980s and 1990s saw a significant influx of Black and Hispanic families, many drawn by JBLM’s steady employment and the area’s relatively low housing costs. The Tillicum neighborhood, adjacent to the base, became a hub for Black military families and working-class residents, while Woodbrook saw growing Hispanic and East/Southeast Asian populations. By 2000, Lakewood’s White share had dropped to around 60%, and the foreign-born population reached 7.7%—a figure that has remained stable since. The Hispanic share grew from under 5% in 1990 to 20.2% today, concentrated in the Lake City district, where small businesses and Spanish-language services are common. The East/Southeast Asian community (7.0%) is largely Filipino and Vietnamese, many connected to JBLM or the healthcare sector at St. Clare Hospital. The Indian subcontinent population remains negligible at 0.2%, a notable contrast to nearby cities like Renton or Redmond.
The future
Lakewood’s population is trending toward greater diversity but also increasing economic stratification. The White share continues to decline slowly, while Hispanic and Black shares are growing, driven by both natural increase and in-migration from other parts of Washington and California. The foreign-born share has plateaued at 7.7%, suggesting that immigration is not the primary driver of change—domestic relocation is. The city is not tribalizing into stark ethnic enclaves; rather, neighborhoods like Springbrook and Lakewood Colonial Center are becoming more mixed, with Hispanic and Black families moving into areas once predominantly White. However, a growing divide is emerging between the military-affiliated population (which tends to be transient and younger) and long-term civilian residents. The college attainment rate of 22.6% is well below the state average of 37%, and the city’s high rental rate (over 55%) suggests that Lakewood may struggle to retain upwardly mobile families. Over the next 10–20 years, the population is likely to become more Hispanic and Black, with the White share falling below 40%. The military connection will remain strong, but the city’s identity may shift from a base-adjacent suburb to a more independent, working-class, multiethnic community.
For someone moving in now, Lakewood offers a genuinely diverse, affordable alternative to pricier Seattle suburbs, but with trade-offs: lower educational attainment, a transient military population, and a rental-heavy housing stock. It is a city in demographic transition, becoming less White and more Hispanic and Black, while remaining anchored by JBLM. The bottom line is that Lakewood is a practical, no-frills place for those who value affordability and diversity over prestige or rapid appreciation.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:13:46.000Z
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