Grocery Stores in King County, WA — Market Data (2023)
499 grocery stores operate in King County, WA, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 2.197 establishments per 10,000 residents, 16.9% above the national average of 1.8795 per 10,000 residents for grocery stores. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 499 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 2.197 |
| Employment | 20,866 |
| Annual payroll | $847,577,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 41.8 |
| County population (2023) | 2,271,380 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower grocery stores density than King County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Sacramento County, CA: 2.089 per 10,000 residents (331 establishments)
- Montgomery County, MD: 2.003 per 10,000 residents (212 establishments)
- Wayne County, MI: 1.999 per 10,000 residents (350 establishments)
- Palm Beach County, FL: 1.969 per 10,000 residents (302 establishments)
See the full Grocery Stores by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Other industries in King County, WA
Establishment counts and density for other tracked business types in King County, WA, 2023 CBP.
- Full-Service Restaurants: 2,618 (11.526/10k)
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 1,771 (7.797/10k)
- Home Remodelers: 1,651 (7.269/10k)
- Dentists: 1,434 (6.313/10k)
- Doctors Offices: 1,052 (4.632/10k)
- Coffee Shops: 1,000 (4.403/10k)
- Child Day Care Centers: 994 (4.376/10k)
- Hair Salons: 856 (3.769/10k)
- Landscaping Companies: 843 (3.711/10k)
- Auto Repair Shops: 452 (1.99/10k)
- Nail Salons: 434 (1.911/10k)
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 422 (1.858/10k)
- Chiropractors: 404 (1.779/10k)
- Bars: 342 (1.506/10k)
- Sports and Recreation Instruction: 316 (1.391/10k)
- Veterinary Clinics: 276 (1.215/10k)
- Pet Grooming and Boarding: 217 (0.955/10k)
- Tax Preparation Services: 212 (0.933/10k)
- Auto Body Shops: 210 (0.925/10k)
- Optometrists: 198 (0.872/10k)
- Family Clothing Stores: 188 (0.828/10k)
- Self-Storage Facilities: 138 (0.608/10k)
- Dry Cleaners: 136 (0.599/10k)
- Bakeries: 98 (0.431/10k)
- Car Washes: 96 (0.423/10k)
- Barbershops: 80 (0.352/10k)
- Florists: 62 (0.273/10k)
- Funeral Homes: 33 (0.145/10k)
- Weight Loss Centers: 25 (0.11/10k)
Frequently asked questions
How many grocery stores are there in King County, WA?
499 grocery stores operate in King County, WA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the grocery stores market in King County, WA saturated compared to the national average?
King County, WA has 2.197 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, which is 16.9% above the national average of 1.8795 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a grocery store business in King County, WA?
The average grocery store business in King County, WA has about 41.8 employees (20,866 total employment ÷ 499 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for grocery stores?
Yes — Sacramento County, CA has a lower density (2.089 per 10,000 residents) than King County, WA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.