Housing decision brief
Franklin County, WA Housing Market
Franklin County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
17th lowest home value out of 39 Washington counties with data | 22nd lowest rent out of 39
Median home value
$345,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,171/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,417/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
4.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$246/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$345,700 median home value is 7% below Washington county median
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 41.9 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Franklin County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $345,700 | $370,500 | $281,900 | 7% favorable7% below Washington county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,171 | $1,119 | $1,163 | 5% pressure5% above Washington county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,417 | $1,221 | $1,672 | 16% pressure16% above Washington county median |
Median household income | $82,755 | $71,528 | $74,755 | 16% favorable16% above Washington county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.76% | 0.79% | 1.02% | Near state median3% below Washington county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 29.00% | N/A | Near state median28.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$35,915
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$22,026
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Franklin County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $1,171/month , about 17.0% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
At $1,171/month rent versus $1,417/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $246/month cheaper , a 17% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $46,840/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $60,729/year. With a median household income of $82,755, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Franklin County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Franklin County sits 5% more expensive than Klickitat County ($1,119/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County, WA | $377,400 | $1,205/mo | Same-state comparison near $377,400 home value and $1,205/mo rent. |
| Cowlitz County, WA | $367,400 | $1,169/mo | Same-state comparison near $367,400 home value and $1,169/mo rent. |
| Benton County, WA | $369,400 | $1,256/mo | Same-state comparison near $369,400 home value and $1,256/mo rent. |
| Spokane County, WA | $370,500 | $1,200/mo | Same-state comparison near $370,500 home value and $1,200/mo rent. |
| Douglas County, WA | $402,900 | $1,234/mo | Same-state comparison near $402,900 home value and $1,234/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Franklin County
Is Franklin County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Franklin County?
How much income do you need for housing in Franklin County?
What should I double-check before moving to Franklin County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.