What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Washington this week

Out of reach · #39 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Washington household earning $112,600 a year can afford a home of about $355,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Washington listing is $639,475, which would take 50.4% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$355,000

Affordable home price

+$2,343 vs. last week · +$21,965 vs. a year ago

$639,000

Median list price (September 2026)

−$500 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Washington 52 a year ago

50.4%

Share of income the median listing takes

$4,726/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$113,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#39

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $639,975 and median income of $95,980 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $334,000 and the median listing took 53.7% of income. Affordability in Washington has improved since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#37 Colorado: can afford $324,000, median listing $564,000
#38 Utah: can afford $325,000, median listing $579,000
#40 Tennessee: can afford $238,000, median listing $429,000
#41 Rhode Island: can afford $306,000, median listing $570,000

Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.