Most affordable counties to rent in Washington
Ranked by how much of the typical renter household's income the typical rent takes. Lincoln County is the most affordable at 20.7%; Whitman County the least affordable at 43.1%.
| County | Rent-to-income | Median gross rent | Median renter income | Renters paying 30%+ | 2 BR FMR FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lincoln County | 20.7% | $883 | $51,071 | 31% | $1,091 |
| 2. Okanogan County | 22.8% | $887 | $46,625 | 39% | $1,202 |
| 3. Stevens County | 25.7% | $898 | $41,974 | 43% | $1,121 |
| 4. Grant County | 26.1% | $1,116 | $51,315 | 43% | $1,361 |
| 5. Yakima County | 26.9% | $1,109 | $49,408 | 44% | $1,313 |
| 6. Franklin County | 27.4% | $1,198 | $52,424 | 48% | $1,487 |
| 7. Chelan County | 27.7% | $1,226 | $53,153 | 42% | $1,467 |
| 8. Asotin County | 27.7% | $1,043 | $45,212 | 44% | $1,234 |
| 9. Douglas County | 27.9% | $1,305 | $56,142 | 46% | $1,467 |
| 10. Benton County | 28.2% | $1,306 | $55,616 | 48% | $1,487 |
| 11. Mason County | 28.6% | $1,285 | $53,978 | 47% | $1,572 |
| 12. Cowlitz County | 29.0% | $1,206 | $49,904 | 49% | $1,398 |
| 13. King County | 29.3% | $2,092 | $85,547 | 47% | $2,549 |
| 14. Clark County | 30.4% | $1,748 | $69,038 | 51% | $1,878 |
| 15. Spokane County | 30.8% | $1,283 | $50,055 | 52% | $1,494 |
| 16. Pacific County | 30.8% | $1,005 | $39,191 | 44% | $1,282 |
| 17. Clallam County | 30.9% | $1,152 | $44,789 | 52% | $1,429 |
| 18. Kitsap County | 31.1% | $1,822 | $70,260 | 53% | $1,967 |
| 19. San Juan County | 31.1% | $1,512 | $58,281 | 45% | $2,022 |
| 20. Island County | 31.5% | $1,662 | $63,319 | 54% | $1,824 |
| 21. Pierce County | 31.8% | $1,806 | $68,118 | 53% | $2,064 |
| 22. Grays Harbor County | 32.2% | $1,062 | $39,571 | 49% | $1,345 |
| 23. Snohomish County | 32.7% | $1,949 | $71,600 | 54% | $2,549 |
| 24. Lewis County | 32.8% | $1,097 | $40,109 | 50% | $1,435 |
| 25. Walla Walla County | 32.9% | $1,218 | $44,472 | 54% | $1,561 |
| 26. Thurston County | 33.3% | $1,736 | $62,625 | 55% | $1,946 |
| 27. Klickitat County | 33.3% | $1,105 | $39,763 | 56% | $1,447 |
| 28. Skagit County | 33.4% | $1,536 | $55,170 | 54% | $1,668 |
| 29. Jefferson County | 35.0% | $1,522 | $52,205 | 48% | $1,588 |
| 30. Whatcom County | 36.1% | $1,555 | $51,629 | 60% | $1,872 |
| 31. Kittitas County | 38.3% | $1,341 | $42,055 | 58% | $1,655 |
| 32. Whitman County | 43.1% | $1,049 | $29,191 | 62% | $1,269 |
Rent-to-income = median gross rent × 12 ÷ median household income of renters. Both are medians of different households, so this is an area comparison, not the burden of any one household. 7 of 39 counties are left out because they have fewer than 500 renter households, a Census margin of error is too large (coefficient of variation above 15%) or a figure is not published.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation. FMR: HUD FY2027.
How much rent can you afford? Use the rent-to-income calculator →