Best Rental Markets in Washington (2026)
Data updated April 2026 · 95 cities screened
Washington's median home value is $604,087 with a median rent of $1,824/mo across our 95 investable cities. At 3.6% annual rent-to-price (18th percentile nationally), it's a price-appreciation market more than a cash-flow one — rents are small relative to purchase prices. Expect entry prices well above the national state median of $344,082. Landlord-tenant law leans tenant-friendly — factor longer eviction timelines into your worst case.
Top Washington cities for cash flow
Ranked by annual rent ÷ median home value. Higher means the rent check is bigger relative to what you paid — the first screen for a cash-flowing rental.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanaway | $514,055 | $2,829/mo | 6.6% | 34,019 |
| 2 | Yelm | $490,149 | $2,366/mo | 5.8% | 11,102 |
| 3 | Airway Heights | $376,855 | $1,692/mo | 5.4% | 11,245 |
| 4 | East Wenatchee | $513,769 | $2,235/mo | 5.2% | 14,199 |
| 5 | Frederickson | $544,411 | $2,367/mo | 5.2% | 25,383 |
| 6 | Pasco | $420,699 | $1,803/mo | 5.1% | 79,575 |
| 7 | Kelso | $389,172 | $1,666/mo | 5.1% | 12,684 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | $281,134 | $1,199/mo | 5.1% | 17,088 |
| 9 | Port Angeles | $458,955 | $1,935/mo | 5.1% | 20,118 |
| 10 | Bonney Lake | $684,045 | $2,883/mo | 5.1% | 22,090 |
Most affordable entry points
Lowest median home values — where a first deal or a limited budget goes furthest. Cheap is not automatically good: check rent and condition before assuming a bargain.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen | $281,134 | $1,199/mo | 5.1% | 17,088 |
| 2 | Yakima | $363,767 | $1,159/mo | 3.8% | 96,961 |
| 3 | Moses Lake | $366,077 | $1,460/mo | 4.8% | 26,083 |
| 4 | Airway Heights | $376,855 | $1,692/mo | 5.4% | 11,245 |
| 5 | Kelso | $389,172 | $1,666/mo | 5.1% | 12,684 |
| 6 | Longview | $390,615 | $1,371/mo | 4.2% | 38,069 |
| 7 | Centralia | $396,728 | $1,415/mo | 4.3% | 18,830 |
| 8 | Spokane | $400,635 | $1,478/mo | 4.4% | 230,293 |
| 9 | Spokane Valley | $414,733 | $1,558/mo | 4.5% | 106,365 |
| 10 | Walla Walla | $418,571 | $1,483/mo | 4.3% | 33,925 |
Fastest rent growth
Year-over-year change in Zillow's observed rent index. Rising rents lift future cash flow — but verify the driver (jobs and population, not a one-year blip).
| # | City | Rent Growth YoY | Median Rent | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | 9.3% | $2,110/mo | $543,328 |
| 2 | Kelso | 7.8% | $1,666/mo | $389,172 |
| 3 | Bryn Mawr-Skyway | 6.7% | $1,981/mo | $681,203 |
| 4 | Oak Harbor | 6.1% | $1,892/mo | $535,773 |
| 5 | Liberty Lake | 6.0% | $2,048/mo | $564,813 |
| 6 | Snohomish | 5.5% | $2,673/mo | $945,525 |
| 7 | Snoqualmie | 5.2% | $2,890/mo | $1,129,059 |
| 8 | Yelm | 5.2% | $2,366/mo | $490,149 |
| 9 | Maple Valley | 5.0% | $2,999/mo | $805,041 |
| 10 | Mount Vernon | 5.0% | $2,022/mo | $590,837 |
Washington fundamentals for landlords
The state-level numbers that shape every deal here — what taxes and law take out of the rent check, and whether demand is growing.
Annual tax as a share of home value (Tax Foundation). Comes straight out of cash flow.
Top marginal state rate (Tax Foundation) — what your rental profit is taxed at in-state.
Composite of rent control, eviction timeline, deposit caps, and notice rules in state statute.
Census ACS. People moving in = housing demand; sustained decline is the risk flag.
BLS, latest month. Tenant quality and vacancy risk track the job market.
Census BPS, latest year. Heavy new supply competes with your unit at renewal time.
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Affects insurance, tenant pool, and appreciation.
FEMA declarations — a proxy for insurance cost and climate exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rental market in Washington for cash flow?
By rent-to-price ratio, Spanaway leads Washington at 6.6% — a median rent of $2,829/mo against a $514,055 median home value (Zillow, April 2026).
Does Washington pass the 1% rule?
At state medians — $1,824 rent on a $604,087 home — monthly rent is 0.30% of the purchase price, so the median Washington deal falls short of the 1% screen. Individual cities can still clear it — see the table above.
Is Washington landlord-friendly?
Washington scores 30/100 on our landlord-friendliness composite (rent control status, eviction timeline, deposit caps, notice requirements) — less owner-friendly than 86% of states.
How high are property taxes in Washington?
The effective property tax rate is 0.98% of home value per year (Tax Foundation) — on the median $604,087 home, roughly $5,920 a year off your cash flow.
Compare with similar states
New Hampshire · Utah · Maine · South Dakota · Idaho
About this data: compiled by RehabRange from Zillow Research (ZHVI home values, ZORI rents), U.S. Census Bureau (ACS population and income, Building Permits Survey), Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment), FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA, and Tax Foundation. Last updated April 2026.
RehabRange is built by Mitchell Haughton, a practicing eastern-Connecticut real estate investor — the same screens he runs before walking a property. How we rank markets