The typical owner-occupied home in Washington is worth about $564,600, 70% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,556 a year in property taxes, about 0.81% of their home's value, lower than the national rate of 0.94%. The median household earns $98,141 a year, so the median home costs 5.8 times the median income (4.1 times for the U.S.). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Washington at a glance
| Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 7,816,116 | 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 $564,600 with 20% down costs about $3,655 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,595, 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 $156,636 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 45% of the median Washington household income of $98,141; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $354,000.
The median rent here is $1,760 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,895 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $112,920 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $451,680 |
| Principal and interest | $3,038 |
| Property taxes (0.81% a year) | $381 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $235 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,655 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $19,761 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $554,374 |
| Principal and interest | $3,729 |
| Property taxes (0.81% a year) | $381 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $235 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $250 |
| Total per month | $4,595 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Washington
What is the median home value in Washington?
About $564,600 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 $4,556 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 $3,655 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $156,636 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