King County, Washington Housing Market Prices
King County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 72% above the Washington median Most expensive county in Washington$833,657
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Median rent 19% above the Washington median Most expensive county in Washington$2,092
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $833,657 | $485,016 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 12.0% | 10.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $2,092 | $1,759 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 6.4% | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in King County is about 72% higher than in Washington. Rent is about 19% higher than the Washington average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in King County, up about 12.0% and 6.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in King County rose about 73.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,203 to $2,092. Over the same span, rent in Washington rose about 73.4%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 6.7 yearly household incomes in King County.
Buying the median-priced home in King County costs roughly 33.2 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in King County. The price-to-rent ratio in Washington is about 23.0.
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $833,657 | $485,016 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $124,760 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 6.7 | 4.9 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in King County rose about 173.5%, while median household income rose about 74.8% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 59.1% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 41.8% | 33.6% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 6.2% | 7.3% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
King County has a homeownership rate of 52.0%, lower than the Washington average of 59.1%. Its housing vacancy rate is 6.2%, compared with 7.3% in Washington.
Housing Stock
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.38 people | 2.50 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1982 | 1983 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in King County was built around 1982. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 4.9 rooms, staying for about 13.0 years on average.
King County, WA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
King County, WA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,275,758 residents against a local median of 276,921. The measure that sets King County, WA apart most is median home price: $833,657, 52% above the local median of $550,004.
Homeownership tells the same story from another angle: 55.4% against a local median of 70.1%, 21% below it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is homeownership, and at 21% below the local median it puts King County, WA at the weaker end of the local range. The counties themselves spread $211,400 on median home price, so King County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. King County, WA has the highest median home price of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County, WA | 2,275,758 | $833,657 #1/6 | $2,092 #1/6 | 55.4% #6/6 |
| Pierce County, WA | 929,755 | $446,511 | $1,805 | 64.7% |
| Snohomish County, WA | 843,136 | $550,004 | $1,948 | 68.2% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 276,921 | $617,222 | $1,821 | 70.1% |
| Skagit County, WA | 131,328 | $412,493 | $1,536 | 70.1% |
| Island County, WA | 86,836 | $623,893 | $1,661 | 74.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in King County, Washington.
What is the median home price in King County, Washington?
The median home price in King County, Washington is $833,657, higher than the Washington average of $485,016.
What is the average home price in King County, Washington?
The typical home price in King County, Washington, reported as the median sale price, is $833,657. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in King County, Washington?
The median gross rent in King County, Washington is $2,092 per month, higher than the Washington average of $1,759.
What was the median gross rent in King County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in King County, Washington was $1,694 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in King County, Washington?
The price-to-rent ratio in King County, Washington is about 33.2, meaning it would take roughly 33.2 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in King County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in King County, Washington?
Both home prices and rent are rising in King County, up about 12.0% and 6.4% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in King County, Washington?
52.0% of households in King County, Washington own their home, lower than the Washington average of 59.1%.
What is the vacancy rate in King County, Washington?
The housing vacancy rate in King County, Washington is 6.2%, lower than the Washington average of 7.3%.
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