The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is worth about $535,000, 5% below the Washington median of $564,600 and 61% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,818 a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of their home's value, lower than the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $74,048 a year, so the median home costs 7.2 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 47% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Jefferson County at a glance
| Jefferson County | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $535,000 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,818 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.71% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $74,048 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 47% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,015 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 25.5% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,522 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.3% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 16.4% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 33,577 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson County home of $535,000 with 20% down costs about $3,419 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,310, 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 $146,513 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 55% of the median Jefferson County household income of $74,048; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $270,000.
The median rent here is $1,522 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,897 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $107,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $428,000 |
| Principal and interest | $2,879 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $317 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $223 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,419 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $18,725 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $525,310 |
| Principal and interest | $3,534 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $317 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $223 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $237 |
| Total per month | $4,310 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Jefferson County
What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
About $535,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,818 a year, which is about 0.71% 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 Jefferson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,419 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $146,513 a year.
More about Jefferson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Jefferson County
- Debt Relief in Jefferson County
- Home Equity Loans in Jefferson County
- 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