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

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

43.9% (±1.0 points) of renting households in Seattle, WA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

35.0% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 27.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 43.9% (±1.0 points)
Paying 35% or more: 35.0% (±0.8 points)
Median share of income: 27.4% (±0.4 points)

Rent as a share of income in Seattle

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Seattle	King County	Washington	United States
Less than 15%	15.4% (±0.9 points)	14.4%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	14.3% (±0.7 points)	13.2%	12.3%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	14.4% (±0.7 points)	13.8%	13.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.0% (±0.8 points)	11.9%	12.1%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.9% (±0.6 points)	9.3%	9.8%	9.2%
35% or more	35.0% (±0.8 points)	37.5%	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.

Seattle against King County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Seattle	King County	Washington	United States
Paying 30% or more	43.9% (±1.0 points)	46.8% (±0.8 points)	49.9% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	35.0% (±0.8 points)	37.5% (±0.7 points)	40.1% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	27.4% (±0.4 points)	28.6% (±0.3 points)	30.0% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$88,103 (±$2,229)	$85,547 (±$1,255)	$66,868 (±$600)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,030 (±$22)	$2,092 (±$13)	$1,760 (±$7)	$1,413

In Seattle, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is lower than in King County (46.8%).

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

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

In King County, Seattle ranks 42 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 287 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 Seattle

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Seattle
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Seattle	—	43.9% (±1.0 points)	—
Medina	5.1 mi	69.4% (±23.9 points)	Higher
Hunts Point	5.9 mi	11.1% (±101.8 points)	Not measurably different
Clyde Hill	6.3 mi	38.9% (±31.6 points)	Not measurably different
Yarrow Point	6.4 mi	50.0% (±64.0 points)	Not measurably different
Mercer Island	6.8 mi	45.4% (±8.7 points)	Not measurably different
Beaux Arts Village	7.3 mi	37.5% (±110.6 points)	Not measurably different
Bainbridge Island	7.4 mi	42.0% (±10.2 points)	Not measurably different
Boulevard Park	7.5 mi	57.5% (±24.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Medina, WA (69.4%).

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 King County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
36	Fairwood (King County)	48.4% (±10.8 points)
37	Enumclaw	47.5% (±12.0 points)
38	Lake Forest Park	46.5% (±14.6 points)
39	Lakeland North	46.4% (±16.6 points)
40	Mercer Island	45.4% (±8.7 points)
41	Normandy Park	44.0% (±22.6 points)
42	Seattle	43.9% (±1.0 points)
43 (tie)	Kirkland	43.6% (±3.9 points)
43 (tie)	Sammamish	43.6% (±9.6 points)
45	Skykomish	42.1% (±41.9 points)
46 (tie)	Carnation	39.3% (±32.2 points)
46 (tie)	Issaquah	39.3% (±6.3 points)
48	Clyde Hill	38.9% (±31.6 points)

Showing 13 of 59 places in King County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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 Seattle

Are renters in Seattle rent-burdened?

43.9% of renting households in Seattle 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 Seattle spend on rent?

The median renting household in Seattle, WA spends 27.4% (±0.4 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 Seattle city, Washington (place:63000, 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.