Milton: Economy & Jobs
Milton's typical household earns $96,540 (about the same as Pierce County median $99,564; about the same as Washington median $98,141), with homes at a median value of $539,700. The surrounding county supports 1,449,785 jobs (avg $132,279).
- $161,387 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Washington $98,017).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $96,540 — near the Washington median ($97,826). Poverty rate 10.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 44% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 5.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 24.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 44.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 10.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $1,150,040 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $185,601,265 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $161,387 (vs Washington $98,017) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $102,333 |
| Median Household Income | $96,540 (vs Washington $97,826) |
| Poverty Rate | 10.2% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Arts Food |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $96,540 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.8% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 9% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 30.30 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.2% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 1,449,785 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $191,775,535,527 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $132,279 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,495,500 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% (vs Washington 3.4%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 264 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 33,134 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 125.50 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Animal Totals, Milk |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 70,530 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 1,290,681 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 142,316,238 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 505 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 161 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 82 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 370 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 69 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 175 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 132 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 2,613 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 1,782 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 343 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 977 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (4)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Safeway 3545 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 7 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SOUTHWEST KING COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $20,069,658,958 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,842.53 (vs Washington $8,135) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 2,269,675 people (vs Washington 51,513) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 73.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 2.3% |
| Pct Walked | 9.2% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 37.9 years (vs Washington 37.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 28.6% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 10 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12