The typical owner-occupied home in King County is worth about $859,900, 52% above the Washington median of $564,600 and 2.6 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $7,114 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of their home's value, close to the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $124,746 a year, so the median home costs 6.9 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 55% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 69% of those owners still have a mortgage.
King County at a glance
| King County | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $859,900 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $7,114 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.83% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $124,746 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 55% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 69% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,273 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.7% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,092 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.6% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1983 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.2% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,287,171 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in King County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median King County home of $859,900 with 20% down costs about $5,581 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,152, 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 $239,175 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 54% of the median King County household income of $124,746; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $448,000.
The median rent here is $2,092 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,489 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $171,980 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $687,920 |
| Principal and interest | $4,628 |
| Property taxes (0.83% a year) | $595 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $358 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $5,581 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $30,096 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $844,325 |
| Principal and interest | $5,680 |
| Property taxes (0.83% a year) | $595 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $358 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $519 |
| Total per month | $7,152 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in King County
What is the median home value in King County?
About $859,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in King County?
Homeowners pay a median $7,114 a year, which is about 0.83% 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 King County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,581 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $239,175 a year.
More about King County
- Mortgage Refinance in King County
- Debt Relief in King County
- Home Equity Loans in King 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