Cost of Living in King 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 King County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
King County ranks #3,123 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
King County Median Home Value Reaches $859,900 in ACS Estimates
In King County, the median home value was estimated at $859,900, which is significantly higher than the Washington unweighted county mean of $436,313. Median gross rent in the county was $2,092 per month, approximately $841 above the unweighted state mean of $1,251. For renter households, the median income was recorded at $85,547. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.6%, which differs from the state unweighted county mean of 29.7% by 1.1 percentage points. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,597, compared to the unweighted county mean of $1,320 across Washington. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates. Data includes all housing tenures and income groups as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. 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: King County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.6% of renter household income in King 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 $2,092 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,597. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $83,680 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. King County's $2,092 median is 67.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in King County
Rent Burden
20.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,911
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.0%
of gross income
The median home in King County may be a stretch
Median home value is $859,900. Estimated monthly cost: $6,865 vs. your max of $2,911.
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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