Washington Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 39 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,251/mo
Average Home Value
$436,313
Average Owner Cost
$1,320/mo
County cost atlas
Washington housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
39
Avg rent
$1,251/mo
Owner cost
$1,320/mo
Avg score
23.8
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Washington: An Overview
The unweighted mean of county median rents in Washington is $1,251 per month, which is 11% below the national ACS median of $1,413. This gives every county equal weight and is not an official statewide median.
Within Washington, housing costs vary significantly by county. King County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $2,092 per month and a median home value of $859,900. Ferry County has the lowest reported median rent at $663 per month and a median home value of $283,400.
The unweighted mean of county median home values in Washington is $436,313, 31% higher than the national ACS median of $332,700. The unweighted mean of county median household incomes is $79,106; neither figure is a household-weighted statewide estimate.
Before comparing places in Washington, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Washington
How median rents are spread across 39 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Washington Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County | Over $1,500$2,092/mo | $859,900 | $2,597/mo | 0.8 | 28.6% |
| Snohomish County | Over $1,500$1,949/mo | $696,000 | $2,252/mo | 1.9 | 31.5% |
| Kitsap County | Over $1,500$1,822/mo | $555,100 | $1,868/mo | 3.5 | 31.3% |
| Pierce County | Over $1,500$1,806/mo | $526,600 | $2,011/mo | 3.2 | 31.5% |
| Clark County | Over $1,500$1,748/mo | $522,900 | $1,821/mo | 4.3 | 30.3% |
| Thurston County | Over $1,500$1,736/mo | $480,300 | $1,814/mo | 4.4 | 32.3% |
| Island County | Over $1,500$1,662/mo | $593,300 | $1,683/mo | 5.8 | 31.5% |
| Whatcom County | Over $1,500$1,555/mo | $585,800 | $1,722/mo | 6.4 | 34.8% |
| Skagit County | Over $1,500$1,536/mo | $545,100 | $1,664/mo | 7.2 | 31.8% |
| Jefferson County | Over $1,500$1,522/mo | $535,000 | $1,130/mo | 15.8 | 29.3% |
| San Juan County | Over $1,500$1,512/mo | $799,200 | $1,511/mo | 8.7 | 27.2% |
| Kittitas County | $1,000–$1,500$1,341/mo | $497,400 | $1,584/mo | 10.1 | 33.7% |
| Benton County | $1,000–$1,500$1,306/mo | $407,800 | $1,399/mo | 13.0 | 29.3% |
| Douglas County | $1,000–$1,500$1,305/mo | $432,500 | $1,229/mo | 16.1 | 28.3% |
| Mason County | $1,000–$1,500$1,285/mo | $411,800 | $1,400/mo | 13.4 | 28.8% |
| Spokane County | $1,000–$1,500$1,283/mo | $410,700 | $1,424/mo | 13.1 | 31.1% |
| Chelan County | $1,000–$1,500$1,226/mo | $490,100 | $1,299/mo | 16.0 | 27.1% |
| Walla Walla County | $1,000–$1,500$1,218/mo | $408,900 | $1,379/mo | 14.9 | 32.9% |
| Cowlitz County | $1,000–$1,500$1,206/mo | $397,500 | $1,469/mo | 13.8 | 29.8% |
| Franklin County | $1,000–$1,500$1,198/mo | $379,300 | $1,437/mo | 14.4 | 29.0% |
| Clallam County | $1,000–$1,500$1,152/mo | $421,800 | $1,075/mo | 23.9 | 30.9% |
| Grant County | $1,000–$1,500$1,116/mo | $299,500 | $1,136/mo | 22.8 | 26.4% |
| Yakima County | $1,000–$1,500$1,109/mo | $310,100 | $1,136/mo | 23.1 | 27.6% |
| Klickitat County | $1,000–$1,500$1,105/mo | $425,300 | $1,056/mo | 26.1 | 31.2% |
| Lewis County | $1,000–$1,500$1,097/mo | $385,800 | $1,224/mo | 21.2 | 30.1% |
| Skamania County | $1,000–$1,500$1,068/mo | $529,500 | $1,413/mo | 18.8 | 27.7% |
| Grays Harbor County | $1,000–$1,500$1,062/mo | $314,000 | $1,059/mo | 27.5 | 29.4% |
| Whitman County | $1,000–$1,500$1,049/mo | $359,600 | $1,286/mo | 21.8 | 40.2% |
| Asotin County | $1,000–$1,500$1,043/mo | $325,600 | $963/mo | 32.4 | 27.3% |
| Pacific County | $1,000–$1,500$1,005/mo | $334,800 | $908/mo | 37.2 | 28.3% |
| Columbia County | Under $1,000$985/mo | $271,200 | $936/mo | 36.8 | 28.5% |
| Stevens County | Under $1,000$898/mo | $350,600 | $893/mo | 45.8 | 26.5% |
| Okanogan County | Under $1,000$887/mo | $299,800 | $824/mo | 51.2 | 24.0% |
| Lincoln County | Under $1,000$883/mo | $292,800 | $797/mo | 53.5 | 23.3% |
| Adams County | Under $1,000$877/mo | $273,300 | $929/mo | 45.4 | 28.4% |
| Pend Oreille County | Under $1,000$855/mo | $367,900 | $916/mo | 48.3 | 21.7% |
| Wahkiakum County | Under $1,000$853/mo | $396,800 | $716/mo | 62.5 | 50.0% |
| Garfield County | Under $1,000$791/mo | $239,200 | $796/mo | 63.8 | 25.8% |
| Ferry County | Under $1,000$663/mo | $283,400 | $723/mo | 80.7 | 22.3% |
Compare Washington to Other States
See how Washington counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Washington Housing Costs
Which Washington county has the lowest median rent?
Which Washington county has the highest median rent?
How does Washington's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the unweighted county-mean home value in Washington?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.