Cost of Living in Mason 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 Mason County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mason County ranks #2,744 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 13%)
Sourced county brief
Mason County Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Income is 28.8%
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Mason County is 28.8%, according to the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate. This value is 0.9 percentage points below the Washington unweighted county mean of 29.7%. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $1,285 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $1,251. Renter households in the area have a median income of $53,978. Regarding homeownership, the median home value is $411,800, below the state unweighted county mean of $436,313. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,400, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $1,320. These figures represent housing cost statistics from the 2020-2024 period and do not indicate future market movements or provide financial advice. 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: Mason County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.8% of renter household income in Mason 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 $1,285 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,400. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,400 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. Mason County's $1,285 median is 2.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mason County
Rent Burden
18.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,943
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.2%
of gross income
The median home in Mason County may be a stretch
Median home value is $411,800. Estimated monthly cost: $3,288 vs. your max of $1,943.
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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