Housing affordability index in Washington

Housing affordability index in Washington: puts one number on the housing question: 34.8% of the state's median household income goes to principal and interest on a median-priced home at today's rate.

30-year fixed rate used: 6.76% (observed 2026-09-10, FRED MORTGAGE30US).

Share of income

34.8%

principal + interest

Monthly payment

$2,697

on a $519,254 home

Median income

$93,119

households, ACS 5-year

Housing affordability index in Washington: counties ranked, least affordable first
RankCountyShare of incomeMonthly P&I
1San Juan County54.7%$3,499
2Jefferson County43.2%$2,334
3King County40.8%$3,955
4Kittitas County39%$2,169
5Whatcom County38.2%$2,467
6Whitman County37.7%$1,550
7Island County36.2%$2,497
8Chelan County35.8%$2,142
9Snohomish County35.5%$3,079
10Skagit County33.8%$2,308
11Wahkiakum County33.6%$1,657
12Clallam County33.3%$1,837
13Klickitat County33%$1,831
14Skamania County32.7%$2,301
15Clark County31.3%$2,354
16Ferry County31.2%$1,313
17Walla Walla County31%$1,722
18Kitsap County30.8%$2,405
19Pend Oreille County30.3%$1,497
20Pierce County30.3%$2,309
21Spokane County29.4%$1,722
22Cowlitz County29.2%$1,725
23Thurston County28.9%$2,138
24Douglas County28.8%$1,905
25Mason County28.5%$1,768
26Lewis County28.4%$1,593
27Stevens County27.7%$1,440
28Okanogan County26.9%$1,304
29Pacific County26.7%$1,309
30Grays Harbor County26.4%$1,298
31Asotin County26.1%$1,384
32Benton County25.2%$1,759
33Franklin County24.7%$1,603
34Yakima County24.5%$1,323
35Grant County23%$1,270
36Adams County21.4%$1,127
37Lincoln County21.3%$1,208
38Columbia County20.8%$1,193
39Garfield County20.4%$987

Methodology

Every county figure for Washington uses the county's own median home value and median household income from the Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, a 20% deposit, and the current 30-year fixed rate from FRED (MORTGAGE30US) amortised over 30 years.

The share shown is annualised principal and interest divided by median household income. Property tax, insurance and HOA dues are excluded so the comparison between counties stays like-for-like.

Counties without both a published home value and a published income are left out entirely rather than filled with an estimate, so the table is shorter than the county list in some states.

Sources: FRED series MORTGAGE30US, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2022.