Cost of Living in Douglas County, Washington
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Douglas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Douglas County ranks #2,667 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Douglas County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,305 Per Month
The median gross rent in Douglas County was estimated at $1,305 per month, which is $54 above the Washington state unweighted county mean of $1,251. For renter households, the canonical affordability metric is provided as the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI). This official GRAPI was 28.3 percent, representing a 1.4 percentage point difference compared to the state unweighted county mean of 29.7 percent. The median home value in the county was $432,500, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $436,313. Additionally, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,229, compared to the state unweighted mean of $1,320. The median renter-household income in the county was reported at $56,142. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Douglas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.3% of renter household income in Douglas County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,305 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,229. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $52,200 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Washington unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,251 per month. Douglas County's $1,305 median is 4.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Douglas County
Rent Burden
19.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,875
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.4%
of gross income
The median home in Douglas County may be a stretch
Median home value is $432,500. Estimated monthly cost: $3,453 vs. your max of $1,875.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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