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Clarkston, WA

Stretch

Your dollar goes further in Clarkston, WA — everyday costs run about 19% below the national average (Cost Index: 81). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $216,900, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $53,092 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Clarkston sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Clarkston.

Monthly Housing
$877/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
20%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,047/mo
After housing and debt · $1,016/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 31%
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Cost Index
81
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$216,900
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$877/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$53,092
National: $78,538
Population
7,240
Purchasing Power
83
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
71 / 100
29% below average
Rent Index
65 / 100
35% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
73 / 100
27% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
81
Affordable · 19% below average

Clarkston Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $216,900 and Washington's property tax rate of 0.98%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$53,092
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
20%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Clarkston looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Clarkston, WA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,126
Monthly Impact
$177
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.98%
National avg: ~1.00%

Washington Place Tax Context

Tax TypeWashingtonNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.98%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax9.23%~5.0%

Compare Clarkston to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Clarkston, WA
81
65
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Clarkston, WA: 71
Rent Prices
65

FAQ: Living in Clarkston

Is Clarkston, WA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Clarkston run about 19% below the US average (Cost Index: 81). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $216,900, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $877, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Clarkston fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $877, while local median household income is $53,092. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 20% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Clarkston, WA?+

Washington is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.98%. On a home worth $216,900, that translates to roughly $2,126 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.23% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Clarkston, WA?+

The typical monthly rent in Clarkston is around $877. That's roughly 35% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $216,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Clarkston, WA?+

The median home in Clarkston is valued at $216,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,097/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 55% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Clarkston?+

Grocery prices in Clarkston are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 73). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Clarkston, WA like to live in?+

Clarkston is a small town with a population of about 7,240. The median age of residents is 35, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 19.31%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Washington

If Clarkston feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Washington

Use these city pages when you want to compare Clarkston against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly