Bellevue to Seattle pano · Photo: Original photos: Deathgleaner Stiching: esby (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
King County, Washington
2,287,171 residents · Updated Nov 12, 2026
The community services in King County, from the data behind Range Lab’s tools, refreshed daily.
Bellevue to Seattle pano · Photo: Original photos: Deathgleaner Stiching: esby (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
419,249 ±3,837
45% of occupied homes
$85,547 ±1,255
Affords $2,139/month at 30% of income
52% of area median income(what renters pay)
$2,092 ±13
Includes utilities; renters already housed
5.3%
Vacant units for rent, of rental stock
What renters can afford vs. typical asking rent
HUD FY2026 income limits at 30% of income, against today’s median asking rent.
30% AMI
Extremely low income
50% AMI
Very low income
80% AMI
Low income
100% AMI
Median income
2 bedroom
—
Median asking rent
Renter cost burden by income band
HUD CHAS 2018-2022. Column width is renter households in each band; height is the share paying 30–50% or 50%+ of income on rent.
All renters: 42% cost-burdened, 20% severely (CHAS). Census ACS 2024: 47% and 22%. HUD doesn’t publish the burden split above 80% AMI.
Typical rent over time vs. what incomes can afford
Zillow’s typical rent since September 2023 against the 2-bedroom rent affordable at 50% and 80% of AMI (HUD FY2026).
| September 2023 | $2,180 |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | $2,187 |
| November 2023 | $2,190 |
| December 2023 | $2,199 |
| January 2024 | $2,210 |
| February 2024 | $2,221 |
| March 2024 | $2,227 |
| April 2024 | $2,234 |
| May 2024 | $2,240 |
| June 2024 | $2,242 |
| July 2024 | $2,243 |
| August 2024 | $2,242 |
| September 2024 | $2,247 |
| October 2024 | $2,251 |
| November 2024 | $2,260 |
| December 2024 | $2,267 |
| January 2025 | $2,276 |
| February 2025 | $2,283 |
| March 2025 | $2,288 |
| April 2025 | $2,291 |
| May 2025 | $2,294 |
| June 2025 | $2,300 |
| July 2025 | $2,303 |
| August 2025 | $2,304 |
| September 2025 | $2,308 |
| October 2025 | $2,310 |
| November 2025 | $2,312 |
| December 2025 | $2,311 |
| January 2026 | $2,309 |
| February 2026 | $2,308 |
| March 2026 | $2,310 |
| April 2026 | $2,315 |
| May 2026 | $2,320 |
| June 2026 | $2,325 |
| July 2026 | $2,333 |
| August 2026 | $2,343 |
Around the county
Median household income (all)
$124,746 ±968
Renters earn 69% of this
Poverty rate
8.6%
of 2,287,171 residents
Key takeaways
About 8 in 10 renters below 50% AMI are cost-burdened
76% of extremely low-income and 85% of very low-income renter households pay more than 30% of income on rent; 65% of the lowest band pay half or more.
Rent affordability gap by unit size
Median asking rent vs. what a household at 30% of area median income can afford. HUD sizing: one person for a studio, 1.5 per bedroom. Select a size to update the charts above.
Sources: Census ACS 5-year (2024) · HUD CHAS (2018-2022) · HUD FY2026 income limits · Zillow ZORI. How this is calculated.