Can you afford to live in Seattle?

Median household income, home values and rent in Seattle, WA — how they've changed since 2015 and how much of a typical paycheck housing takes compared with the rest of the country.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

What it costs to live in Seattle.

Median household income: $121,984 — +72.8% since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation)

Median gross rent: $1,998/mo — +68.6% since 2015

Median home value, 2015 to 2023

• 2015: 452800
• 2023: 912100

Median household income

• Seattle: 121984
• King County: 122148
• WA: 94952
• U.S.: 78538

Median gross rent

• Seattle: 1998
• King County: 2035
• WA: 1682
• U.S.: 1348

Share of income a typical renter spends on rent: 27.4% — U.S.: 30.2%

What it means

The typical household here earns $121,984 — far higher than the national figure of $78,538.

The typical renter here spends 27.4% of household income on rent, below the 30% cost-burden line.

Since 2015, income has kept pace with rent here (+72.8% versus +68.6%), before adjusting for inflation.