Rent, home prices, and cost of living in Washington
Across the 191 Washington cities with committed home, rent, and income data, the population-weighted cost index is 152, 52% above the U.S. baseline of 100. In that sample, the median city home value is $586,172, the median city monthly rent is $2,064, and the median city household income is $100,668.
Cross-city statistics over the 191 Washington cities with committed home, rent, and income data; not a statewide household median. Home value and rent: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI Aug 2026 where matched, HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR where no ZORI match, otherwise Census ACS 2024 place estimates. Household income: Census ACS 2024 place estimates. Cost index: population-weighted across the sample from those housing inputs plus BEA 2024 regional price parities.
Major cities in Washington
Tax context: top income-tax rate 0%, estimated combined sales tax 9.57%, property-tax proxy 0.75%. Use the dedicated tax tool for an income scenario.
Most affordable Washington cities for renters and buyers
Focused affordability orderings within the committed sample of Washington places that have uncapped, precise housing and income data. Each list states its sort basis, source vintages, and how many places it covers.
All 194 Washington cities
Every committed place in Washington, grouped by population. Each entry links straight to its cost-of-living page, and the list is rendered on the server so it is visible without JavaScript.
Cities of 100,000 or more 9 cities
Cities of 25,000 to 99,999 43 cities
- Federal Way, WA
- Yakima, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Kirkland, WA
- Auburn, WA
- Kennewick, WA
- Pasco, WA
- Redmond, WA
- Marysville, WA
- South Hill, WA
- Sammamish, WA
- Lakewood, WA
- Richland, WA
- Shoreline, WA
- Lacey, WA
- Olympia, WA
- Burien, WA
- Bothell, WA
- Bremerton, WA
- Puyallup, WA
- Edmonds, WA
- Lake Stevens, WA
- Lynnwood, WA
- Issaquah, WA
- Parkland, WA
- Longview, WA
- Wenatchee, WA
- Mount Vernon, WA
- Graham, WA
- University Place, WA
- Spanaway, WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- Des Moines, WA
- SeaTac, WA
- Pullman, WA
- Orchards, WA
- Maple Valley, WA
- Camas, WA
- Tumwater, WA
- Moses Lake, WA
- Mill Creek East, WA
- Frederickson, WA
- Mercer Island, WA
Cities of 10,000 to 24,999 81 cities
- Bainbridge Island, WA
- Oak Harbor, WA
- Kenmore, WA
- Eastmont, WA
- North Lynnwood, WA
- Hazel Dell, WA
- Mountlake Terrace, WA
- Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA
- Martha Lake, WA
- Cottage Lake, WA
- Silver Firs, WA
- Bonney Lake, WA
- Bothell West, WA
- Battle Ground, WA
- Tukwila, WA
- Mukilteo, WA
- Covington, WA
- Five Corners, WA
- Arlington, WA
- Mill Creek, WA
- Ellensburg, WA
- Silverdale, WA
- Port Angeles, WA
- Salmon Creek, WA
- Monroe, WA
- Centralia, WA
- Anacortes, WA
- Fairwood CDP (King County), WA
- Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA
- West Richland, WA
- Washougal, WA
- Camano, WA
- Port Orchard, WA
- Aberdeen, WA
- Sunnyside, WA
- Lynden, WA
- Ferndale, WA
- Lakeland North, WA
- Lake Stickney, WA
- Fort Lewis, WA
- White Center, WA
- Bothell East, WA
- Elk Plain, WA
- East Wenatchee, WA
- Artondale, WA
- Snoqualmie, WA
- Woodinville, WA
- Ridgefield, WA
- Lake Forest Park, WA
- Lakeland South, WA
- Edgewood, WA
- Newcastle, WA
- Sedro-Woolley, WA
- Cheney, WA
- Enumclaw, WA
- Lake Tapps, WA
- Liberty Lake, WA
- Kelso, WA
- East Renton Highlands, WA
- Gig Harbor, WA
- Poulsbo, WA
- Prairie Ridge, WA
- Minnehaha, WA
- Airway Heights, WA
- Grandview, WA
- Lake Morton-Berrydale, WA
- Yelm, WA
- Fife, WA
- Maltby, WA
- Felida, WA
- Birch Bay, WA
- Mount Vista, WA
- Sumner, WA
- Fairwood CDP (Spokane County), WA
- Shelton, WA
- Port Townsend, WA
- Alderwood Manor, WA
- Picnic Point, WA
- Snohomish, WA
- Terrace Heights, WA
- Burlington, WA
Places under 10,000 61 cities
- Vashon, WA
- DuPont, WA
- College Place, WA
- Tehaleh, WA
- Midland, WA
- Orting, WA
- Milton, WA
- Hoquiam, WA
- Othello, WA
- Summit, WA
- Toppenish, WA
- Barberton, WA
- Ephrata, WA
- Duvall, WA
- Summit View, WA
- Selah, WA
- Stanwood, WA
- Sequim, WA
- Quincy, WA
- North Bend, WA
- Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA
- Waller, WA
- Chehalis, WA
- Clover Creek, WA
- Ocean Shores, WA
- Clarkston, WA
- Fircrest, WA
- Pacific, WA
- Lake Shore, WA
- Woods Creek, WA
- Mead, WA
- Parkwood, WA
- Wollochet, WA
- Steilacoom, WA
- Normandy Park, WA
- Union Gap, WA
- Hobart, WA
- Brier, WA
- Woodland, WA
- North Fort Lewis, WA
- Tanglewilde, WA
- Prosser, WA
- Country Homes, WA
- Hockinson, WA
- Tracyton, WA
- Sultan, WA
- Bangor Base, WA
- Blaine, WA
- Sudden Valley, WA
- Black Diamond, WA
- Manchester, WA
- Rochester, WA
- Maplewood, WA
- Finley, WA
- Lake Goodwin, WA
- Otis Orchards-East Farms, WA
- West Clarkston-Highland, WA
- Buckley, WA
- Suncrest, WA
- Connell, WA
- Omak, WA
Data boundary: city housing and income use committed Zillow, HUD FMR, and Census inputs; non-housing costs use BEA regional proxies; mortgage estimates use the committed FRED benchmark. HUD FMRs are 2-bedroom 40th-percentile gross-rent program benchmarks, not market medians. Tax values are state context, not an individual filing or parcel bill. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is from the Tax Foundation 2026 edition, based on 2024 ACS.
Frequently asked questions about Washington
Washington housing questions
What is the most affordable city to live in Washington?+
Among the cities we track, Hoquiam stands out as the most affordable option in Washington. The median home value there is $244,951, and monthly rent typically runs around $1,582. The local median household income is $49,795, which tends to go further here than in much of the state.
What is the most expensive city in Washington?+
Mercer Island is currently the priciest market in WA. Homes there are valued at a median of $2,257,926, and renters can expect to pay around $2,827/month. Incomes are higher too — the median household earns $219,069 — but whether that fully offsets the cost premium depends on your lifestyle.
How are taxes in Washington?+
This model applies no broad Washington wage-income tax; federal, payroll, local, investment, property, and sales taxes remain separate. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is 0.75% and is not an individual bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is 9.57%.
How much does housing vary across Washington?+
There's a huge range. In Hoquiam, the median home costs around $244,951. In Mercer Island, that number jumps to $2,257,926 — roughly 8x more. Rents follow a similar pattern: approximately $1,582/month vs. $2,827/month. Where you choose to settle within WA can make a dramatic difference in your monthly budget.
Is Washington a good state to move to?+
It depends on your priorities and budget. Washington has a wide range of living costs depending on the city and no broad state wage-income tax in this model. Typical home values range from around $244,951 in lower-cost tracked places to $2,257,926 in higher-cost tracked places. Use the city comparison tool to compare housing, rent, state-level tax proxies, and everyday cost pressure across locations in WA.