How many renters in Ellensburg, WA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Ellensburg, WA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

61.7% (±6.8 points) of renting households in Ellensburg, WA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

51.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 36.1% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 61.7% (±6.8 points)
Paying 35% or more: 51.7% (±6.0 points)
Median share of income: 36.1% (±3.7 points)

Rent as a share of income in Ellensburg

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Ellensburg	Kittitas County	Washington	United States
Less than 15%	8.9% (±3.1 points)	10.7%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.8% (±3.2 points)	9.6%	12.3%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	9.3% (±3.3 points)	11.2%	13.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.3% (±3.7 points)	10.5%	12.1%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.0% (±3.3 points)	10.7%	9.8%	9.2%
35% or more	51.7% (±6.0 points)	47.3%	40.1%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Ellensburg against Kittitas County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Ellensburg	Kittitas County	Washington	United States
Paying 30% or more	61.7% (±6.8 points)	58.0% (±6.0 points)	49.9% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	51.7% (±6.0 points)	47.3% (±5.3 points)	40.1% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	36.1% (±3.7 points)	33.7% (±2.5 points)	30.0% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$39,074 (±$3,453)	$42,055 (±$5,922)	$66,868 (±$600)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,340 (±$57)	$1,341 (±$52)	$1,760 (±$7)	$1,413

In Ellensburg, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Kittitas County (58.0%).

It is also higher than in Washington (49.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Kittitas County, Ellensburg ranks 1 of 5 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 79 of 467.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Ellensburg

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ellensburg
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Ellensburg	—	61.7% (±6.8 points)	—
Kittitas	6.3 mi	26.6% (±32.0 points)	Lower
Naches	20 mi	46.6% (±19.3 points)	Not measurably different
Tieton	23 mi	41.2% (±32.4 points)	Not measurably different
South Cle Elum	23 mi	37.5% (±47.4 points)	Not measurably different
Cle Elum	23 mi	39.6% (±14.8 points)	Lower
Gleed	24 mi	42.5% (±37.3 points)	Not measurably different
Selah	24 mi	38.9% (±16.8 points)	Lower
Terrace Heights	28 mi	48.6% (±18.5 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Kittitas, WA (26.6%), Cle Elum, WA (39.6%), Selah, WA (38.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Kittitas County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ellensburg	61.7% (±6.8 points)
2	Roslyn	61.5% (±35.0 points)
3	Cle Elum	39.6% (±14.8 points)
4	South Cle Elum	37.5% (±47.4 points)
5	Kittitas	26.6% (±32.0 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Ellensburg

Are renters in Ellensburg rent-burdened?

61.7% of renting households in Ellensburg pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Ellensburg spend on rent?

The median renting household in Ellensburg, WA spends 36.1% (±3.7 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Ellensburg city, Washington (place:21240, in state:53).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.