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City Housing Verdict

Othello, WA

Stretch

The cost of living in Othello, WA is 9% below the national average (Cost Index: 91). Homes here are typically valued around $278,600, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $65,757 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Othello 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 Othello.

Monthly Housing
$1,041/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
19%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,939/mo
After housing and debt · $1,313/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 28%
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Cost Index
91
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$278,600
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,041/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$65,757
National: $78,538
Population
8,699
Purchasing Power
92
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
92 / 100
8% below average
Rent Index
77 / 100
23% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
91
Average

Othello Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $278,600 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
$65,757
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
19%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.2x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Othello 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 Othello, WA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,730
Monthly Impact
$228
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 Othello 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.

Othello, WA
91
77
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Othello, WA: 92
Rent Prices
77

FAQ: Living in Othello

Is Othello, WA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Othello run about 9% below the US average (Cost Index: 91). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $278,600, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $1,041, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Othello fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,041, while local median household income is $65,757. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% 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 Othello, 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 $278,600, that translates to roughly $2,730 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.23% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Othello is around $1,041. That's roughly 23% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $278,600, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

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

The median home in Othello is valued at $278,600. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,409/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 56% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Othello?+

Grocery prices in Othello 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: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Othello, WA like to live in?+

Othello is a small town with a population of about 8,699. The median age of residents is 24.6, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 23.78%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Washington

If Othello 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 Othello 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