The great King County diaspora

Mary Bruno

Mary Bruno Jul 5, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>The great King County diaspora</h1>
                <h2><p>New census data suggests that a growing number of people are leaving King County for more affordable Pierce, according to Gene Falk, the FYI Guy. Newbies are still pouring into King County. But based on the latest "net domestic migration" data, writes Falk, "the balance of that</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/mary-bruno-crosscut-com/">Mary Bruno</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>New census data suggests that a growing number of people are leaving King County for more affordable Pierce, according to <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/priced-out-has-the-king-county-diaspora-begun/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">Gene Falk, the FYI Guy</a>. Newbies are still pouring into King County. But based on the latest "net domestic migration" data, writes Falk, "the balance of that flow seems to have shifted markedly toward those who are leaving." Not so with Pierce County, which "registered a surplus" of newcomers last year. Is King County's loss becoming Pierce County's gain? We won't know for sure, says Falk, until the U.S. Census Bureau releases its county level numbers.</p>
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New census data suggests that a growing number of people are leaving King County for more affordable Pierce, according to Gene Falk, the FYI Guy. Newbies are still pouring into King County. But based on the latest "net domestic migration" data, writes Falk, "the balance of that flow seems to have shifted markedly toward those who are leaving." Not so with Pierce County, which "registered a surplus" of newcomers last year. Is King County's loss becoming Pierce County's gain? We won't know for sure, says Falk, until the U.S. Census Bureau releases its county level numbers.

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By Mary Bruno

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,