Counties in Washington where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
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Counties in Washington where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Washington where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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#39. Garfield County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
- Total occupied households: 984
- Median household income: $55,900
- Median monthly housing cost: $633

#38. Lincoln County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.0%
- Total occupied households: 4,525
- Median household income: $54,631
- Median monthly housing cost: $708

#37. Pend Oreille County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
- Total occupied households: 5,727
- Median household income: $50,591
- Median monthly housing cost: $685

#36. Wahkiakum County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.6%
- Total occupied households: 1,897
- Median household income: $53,227
- Median monthly housing cost: $727

#35. Stevens County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 17,554
- Median household income: $51,775
- Median monthly housing cost: $736

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#34. Okanogan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 17,675
- Median household income: $47,240
- Median monthly housing cost: $684

#33. Ferry County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.1%
- Total occupied households: 3,060
- Median household income: $41,939
- Median monthly housing cost: $608

#32. Klickitat County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
- Total occupied households: 8,877
- Median household income: $55,773
- Median monthly housing cost: $812

#31. Asotin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 9,101
- Median household income: $53,715
- Median monthly housing cost: $789

#30. Columbia County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 1,795
- Median household income: $53,423
- Median monthly housing cost: $787

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#29. Grant County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 30,818
- Median household income: $55,556
- Median monthly housing cost: $834

#28. Pacific County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 9,279
- Median household income: $46,733
- Median monthly housing cost: $704

#27. Benton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 72,121
- Median household income: $69,023
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,045

#26. Douglas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 15,263
- Median household income: $62,951
- Median monthly housing cost: $959

#25. Skamania County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.5%
- Total occupied households: 4,816
- Median household income: $65,181
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,005

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#24. Adams County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.6%
- Total occupied households: 5,973
- Median household income: $48,294
- Median monthly housing cost: $773

#23. Franklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 26,723
- Median household income: $63,584
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,029

#22. Grays Harbor County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.0%
- Total occupied households: 28,722
- Median household income: $51,240
- Median monthly housing cost: $841

#21. Chelan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 28,384
- Median household income: $58,795
- Median monthly housing cost: $965

#20. Walla Walla County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.1%
- Total occupied households: 22,646
- Median household income: $57,858
- Median monthly housing cost: $956

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#19. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.5%
- Total occupied households: 14,705
- Median household income: $55,127
- Median monthly housing cost: $913

#18. Lewis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 30,618
- Median household income: $53,484
- Median monthly housing cost: $898

#17. Yakima County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.1%
- Total occupied households: 83,048
- Median household income: $51,637
- Median monthly housing cost: $878

#16. Mason County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.7%
- Total occupied households: 24,278
- Median household income: $57,634
- Median monthly housing cost: $990

#15. Clallam County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.9%
- Total occupied households: 32,958
- Median household income: $52,192
- Median monthly housing cost: $897

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#14. Skagit County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.3%
- Total occupied households: 48,493
- Median household income: $67,028
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,179

#13. Spokane County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.8%
- Total occupied households: 202,811
- Median household income: $56,904
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,008

#12. Cowlitz County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.0%
- Total occupied households: 41,952
- Median household income: $54,506
- Median monthly housing cost: $982

#11. Kitsap County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.9%
- Total occupied households: 103,913
- Median household income: $75,411
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,368

#10. San Juan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.6%
- Total occupied households: 8,252
- Median household income: $63,622
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,160

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#9. Thurston County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.5%
- Total occupied households: 109,983
- Median household income: $72,003
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,314

#8. Clark County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.9%
- Total occupied households: 174,661
- Median household income: $75,253
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,376

#7. Island County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.2%
- Total occupied households: 34,768
- Median household income: $68,604
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,274

#6. King County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 39.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.9%
- Total occupied households: 882,028
- Median household income: $94,974
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,772

#5. Whatcom County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.9%
- Total occupied households: 86,523
- Median household income: $62,984
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,185

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#4. Snohomish County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 39.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.1%
- Total occupied households: 293,823
- Median household income: $86,691
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,642

#3. Kittitas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 37.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 35.6%
- Total occupied households: 18,347
- Median household income: $56,004
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,071

#2. Pierce County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 38.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.0%
- Total occupied households: 323,296
- Median household income: $72,113
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,416

#1. Whitman County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 38.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 38.4%
- Total occupied households: 17,999
- Median household income: $42,745
- Median monthly housing cost: $845

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