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Graham, WA

High Pressure

Living in Graham, WA costs about 44% more than the national average (Cost Index: 144). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $591,611 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $115,501, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Graham already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 23% rent burden, 5.1x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 195. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

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

Monthly Housing
$2,172/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
23%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,953/mo
After housing and debt · $2,318/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: everyday costs
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 28%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
144
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$591,611
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $472,800
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$2,172/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$115,501
National: $78,538
Population
35,090
Purchasing Power
102
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
195 / 100
95% above average
Rent Index
161 / 100
61% above average
Goods & Groceries
104 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
93 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
107 / 100
7% above average
Overall Index
144
Very Expensive · 44% above average

Graham Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $591,611 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
$115,501
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
23%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Graham 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 Graham, WA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$5,798
Monthly Impact
$483
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 Graham 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.

Graham, WA
144
161
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Graham, WA: 195
Rent Prices
161

FAQ: Living in Graham

Is Graham, WA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Graham is about 44% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 144. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $591,611, and monthly rents average roughly $2,172. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Graham fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,172, while local median household income is $115,501. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% 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 Graham, 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 $591,611, that translates to roughly $5,798 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.23% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Graham is around $2,172. That's about 61% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $591,611, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

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

The median home in Graham is valued at $591,611. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,992/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 82% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Graham?+

Grocery prices in Graham are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 104, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 93). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Graham, WA like to live in?+

Graham is a smaller city with a population of about 35,090. The median age of residents is 35.1, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 6.22%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Washington

If Graham 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 Graham 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