The typical owner-occupied home in Washington is worth about $323,900, 56% below the California median of $734,700 and 3% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,630 a year in property taxes, about 0.81% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 0% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Washington at a glance
| Washington | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,900 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,630 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.81% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | – | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 62% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 0% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | – | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Median rent | $1,328 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 51.0% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1938 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.5% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 129 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Washington
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Washington home of $323,900 with 20% down costs about $2,097 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,636, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $89,859 for the 20%-down payment.
The median rent here is $1,328 a month, so owning the median home costs about $769 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $64,780 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $259,120 |
| Principal and interest | $1,743 |
| Property taxes (0.81% a year) | $219 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $135 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,097 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $11,336 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $318,033 |
| Principal and interest | $2,139 |
| Property taxes (0.81% a year) | $219 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $135 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $143 |
| Total per month | $2,636 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Washington
What is the median home value in Washington?
About $323,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Washington?
Homeowners pay a median $2,630 a year, which is about 0.81% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Washington?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,097 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $89,859 a year.
More about Washington
- Mortgage Refinance in Washington
- Debt Relief in Washington
- Home Equity Loans in Washington
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data