Census: Washington State Gets Older as Children in Households Shrinks

Washington state got a bit older in the past 10 years, with women continuing to live longer than men, according to new Census data released Wednesday night.

Our households stayed about the same size or shrank slightly, but we had a smaller proportion of children in our homes and a larger proportion of other relatives living with us. And our racial makeup changed as well, with the Indian and Mexican populations growing siagnificantly statewide.

The Hispanic or Latino population — which includes Mexicans, Puerto Ricans Cubans or other Hispanic people — nearly doubled in a decade in Lakewood, the biggest minority increase in the city. Asians and African Americans grew by less than one percent, according to new Census figures.

The Mexican population experienced the most significant single race growth, expanding from 6,318 people in 2010 compared to 2,945 in 2000.

African American population remains the largest minority group (9,125) but the Hispanic or Latino population (8,877) aren't far behind. Census numbers indicate a substantial growth in the Hispanic or Latino population in Lakewood.

Here’s a look at the numbers:

• In Washington state, the median age was 37.3 in 2010, up from 35.3 in 2000.
• The percentage of males to females was the same, 49.8 percent to 50.2 percent.
• The median age for males was 36.2 and 38.3 for females last year, up from 34.4 for males and 36.3 for females in 2000. 
• The average household size was 2.51 people, nearly flat from 2.53 in 2000.
• The average family size was 3.06, about the same as 3.07 in 2000.
• But looking at households, families made up 64.4 percent in 2010, down from 66 percent 10 years ago. 
• And of those family households, those with their own children under 18 dropped from 32.7 percent to 29.1 percent.

At the same time, the proportion of other relatives living in households jumped considerably. In 2000, the Census counted 236,631 "other relatives" living in all households, or 4 percent of the population. Ten years later, that grew to 349,380, or 5.2 percent -- a 30 percent jump in the proportion.

Our age groups have shifted, too. Children made up smaller percentages of the population in all age groups for the state. For example:

• The percentage of preschoolers shrank slightly, from 6.7 percent in 2000 to 6.5 percent in 2010. The percentage of 5- to 14-year-olds shrank from 14.6 percent to 12.9 percent. And 15- to 19-year-olds shrank from 7.3 percent to 6.9 percent.

Also losing ground was the percentage of 25- to 44-year-olds.

On the growth side, the percentage of 20- to 24-year-olds rose, as did older age groups. Those 85 and older rose 39 percent, from 84,085 in 2000 to 117,271 last year.

The Census also looked at people’s racial and ethnic backgrounds. Of people who considered themselves one race and Asian, the proportion of people of Indian descent grew the greatest, more than doubling from 23,992, or 0.4 percent of the population, in 2000 to 61,124, or 0.9 percent, last year. Other Asian groups grew more slowly, with the population of Japanese descent actually shrinking, from 35,985, or 0.6 percent, in 2000 to 35,008, or 0.5 percent, in 2010.

Among people who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, those of Mexican descent grew the most, nearly doubling from 329,934, or 5.6 percent of the population, in 2000 to 601,768, or 8.9 percent, last year.

Other data released Wednesday:

Pierce County:
Median age:  34.1 (2000: 34.1)
Males 49.7 percent; females 50.3 percent (2000: unchanged)
Median age by gender:  males 34.9, females 36.8 (2000: males 33.1, females 35.1)
Average household size: 2.59 (2000: 2.60)
Average family size: 3.09 (3.10)

King County:
Median age: 37.1 (2000: 35.7)
Males 49.8 percent, females 50.2 (2000: unchanged)
Median age by gender: males 36.3, females 37.9 (2000: males 34.9, females 36.6)
Average household size: 2.40 (2000: 2.39)  
Average family size: 3.05 (2000: 3.03)

Snohomish County:
Median age: 37.1 (2000: 34.7)
Males 50 percent, females 50 percent (2000: unchanged)
Median age by gender: males 36.1; females 38.1 (2000: males 33.9, females 35.4)
Average household size: 2.62 (2000: 2.65)
Average family size: 3.12 (2000: 3.13)