Cost of Living in Snohomish 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 Snohomish County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Snohomish County ranks #3,093 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Snohomish County median monthly owner costs estimated at $2,252
Snohomish County's median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units was $2,252, which is $932 higher than the Washington unweighted county mean of $1,320. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.5%. This canonical metric is 1.8 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 29.7%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,949 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,251. Renter households had a median income of $71,600. The median home value was $696,000, while the state unweighted county mean was $436,313. These statistics represent median costs and incomes for the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimate period. 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: Snohomish County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.5% of renter household income in Snohomish County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,949 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,252. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $77,960 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. Snohomish County's $1,949 median is 55.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Snohomish County
Rent Burden
21.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,596
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.3%
of gross income
The median home in Snohomish County may be a stretch
Median home value is $696,000. Estimated monthly cost: $5,556 vs. your max of $2,596.
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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