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Buying a home in Snohomish County, Washington

The typical owner-occupied home in Snohomish County is worth about $696,000, 23% above the Washington median of $564,600 and 2.1 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,364 a year in property taxes, about 0.77% of their home's value, close to the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $111,246 a year, so the median home costs 6.3 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 68% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 72% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Snohomish County at a glance

Snohomish County Washington U.S.
Median home value $696,000 $564,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $5,364 $4,556 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.77% 0.81% 0.94%
Median household income $111,246 $98,141 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 68% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 72% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,748 $2,445 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.8% 22.2% 21.0%
Median rent $1,949 $1,760 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 31.5% 30.0% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1990 1985 1980
Vacant homes 4.6% 7.3% 10.1%
Population 844,430 7,816,116 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Snohomish County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Snohomish County home of $696,000 with 20% down costs about $4,482 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,642, 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 $192,096 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 48% of the median Snohomish County household income of $111,246; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $403,000.

The median rent here is $1,949 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,533 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$139,200
Loan amount$556,800
Principal and interest$3,746
Property taxes (0.77% a year)$447
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$290
PMI$0
Total per month$4,482

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$24,360
Loan amount$683,394
Principal and interest$4,597
Property taxes (0.77% a year)$447
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$290
FHA mortgage insurance$308
Total per month$5,642

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Questions about home buying in Snohomish County

What is the median home value in Snohomish County?

About $696,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Snohomish County?

Homeowners pay a median $5,364 a year, which is about 0.77% 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 Snohomish County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,482 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $192,096 a year.

More about Snohomish County

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