WA · Housing affordability · 2024

WashingtonHousing Affordability by County

Washington state's tech economy hasn't made housing affordable — quite the opposite

High salaries in Seattle's tech sector have pushed home prices to $564,600, far out of reach for most workers in the state. Nearly half of all renters are spending more than they can afford on housing.

Under pressure Population: 7,816,116

Among the most expensive states in the country for buyers and renters alike.

Years of income to buy a home

5.8×

▲ 39% vs US average

Typical home price

$564,600

▲ 63% vs US average

Typical monthly rent

$1,760

▲ 34% vs US average

Renters paying too much for rent

47.5%

▲ 5% vs US average

Homeowners stretched thin

19.5%

▲ 21% vs US average

Typical household income

$98,141

▲ 22% vs US average

How to read the bars: the coloured bar is WA's value; the grey tick is the US average. "Paying too much" means spending more than 30% of income on housing — the standard economic threshold for cost burden.

What the data shows

Buying a home in Washington is a significant financial challenge. The typical home costs $564,600 — that's 5.8× of the typical household income of $98,141 a year. A family saving their entire income would need 5.8 years just to cover the purchase price, before factoring in mortgage interest, property taxes, or maintenance costs.

Renters face real pressure. The typical rent in Washington is $1,760 a month, and 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 5% higher than the national average of 45%.

19.5% of Washington homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — above the national average of 16.1%.

How Washington ranks nationally

Rank 1 = most expensive / highest burden. Compared against all 50 states and DC (51 in total).

Years to buy a home

5th

of 51 states

Typical home price

4th

of 51 states

Typical monthly rent

6th

of 51 states

Renters paying too much

16th

of 51 states

Common questions

Is Washington affordable to live in? +

Housing in Washington is expensive relative to incomes. The typical home costs $564,600, which is 5.8× of the typical household income — well above the national average of around 4.2×.

What is the average rent in Washington? +

The typical monthly rent in Washington is $1,760, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. About 48% of WA renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent.

How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Washington? +

As a rough guide, you'd need a household income of around $141,000 a year to comfortably afford the typical Washington home of $564,600, assuming a 20% down payment and standard mortgage terms. The typical Washington household earns $98,141 a year.

Explore Washington county by county on the map

The state average is only part of the story. Drill into individual counties and census tracts to see where affordability varies most across Washington.

Open WA on the map

Other states in the same tier — Under pressure