KING COUNTY, WA — A new survey released this week sought to learn how soaring housing costs, increased remote work, and other pandemic-related economic factors are changing how and where King County residents live and work.

Pacific Northwest firms Quinn Thomas and DHM Research conducted the survey, gathering responses from 501 King County adults representing a variety of age groups, racial backgrounds, geographies and other demographics, researchers said. Each participant completed a 15-minute questionnaire.

Among the key takeaways: More than half of King County adults surveyed said they were likely to move within five years. Within that group, 44 percent said they would move somewhere within the Seattle region, including 32 percent who would move to a Seattle suburb. Another 36 percent expected to leave the region, and 21 percent said they were unsure.

An overwhelming 80 percent of those likely to move identified the cost of housing among their top three reasons for leaving, followed by “local government response to homelessness” and “crime rates.” As for reasons to stay, outdoor recreation, local arts and entertainment, and work opportunities ranked highest.

The survey also asked residents to weigh in on housing preferences in general, finding more than 80 percent preferred a single-family home and 60 percent preferred the suburbs over downtown Seattle or a “close-in neighborhood.”

Despite the overwhelming preference for single-family homes, more than half of respondents also favored increasing housing density and eliminating single-family zoning within Seattle, allowing for more apartments and condos to be built in all neighborhoods. 51 percent favored the same for Seattle’s suburbs. Strong support was also seen for building more housing on underdeveloped lands and converting empty office buildings into apartments.

More than a quarter of survey participants said they missed at least one rent or mortgage payment during the pandemic, and more than 60 percent said they tried to access assistance. Researchers said rent and mortgage aid skewed toward the younger demographic, with 34 percent of the 18-34 age group indicating need.

Read the full report on the survey’s findings via Quinn Thomas.