Housing decision brief
Klickitat County, WA Housing Market
Klickitat County screens as a higher 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.
24th lowest home value out of 39 Washington counties with data | 20th lowest rent out of 39
Median home value
$388,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,119/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,008/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
31.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$111/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $111/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$70,400 median income is 2% below Washington county median
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
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- 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 Klickitat 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. | $388,700 | $370,500 | $281,900 | 5% pressure5% above Washington county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,119 | $1,119 | $1,163 | Near state medianAt the Washington county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,008 | $1,221 | $1,672 | 17% favorable17% below Washington county median |
Median household income | $70,400 | $71,528 | $74,755 | Near state median2% below Washington county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.62% | 0.79% | 1.02% | 21% favorable21% below Washington county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 31.00% | 29.00% | N/A | 7% pressure31.00% 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
+$25,640
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$27,200
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Klickitat County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $1,119/month in gross rent, with 31.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
Renters in Klickitat County pay $1,119/month on average, compared to $1,008/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 10%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $44,760/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $43,200/year. With a median household income of $70,400, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 31.0% of renter households in Klickitat County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Klickitat County sits 5% more expensive than Yakima County ($1,068/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clallam County, WA | $385,600 | $1,110/mo | Same-state comparison near $385,600 home value and $1,110/mo rent. |
| Walla Walla County, WA | $375,600 | $1,113/mo | Same-state comparison near $375,600 home value and $1,113/mo rent. |
| Cowlitz County, WA | $367,400 | $1,169/mo | Same-state comparison near $367,400 home value and $1,169/mo rent. |
| Spokane County, WA | $370,500 | $1,200/mo | Same-state comparison near $370,500 home value and $1,200/mo rent. |
| Lewis County, WA | $341,500 | $1,044/mo | Same-state comparison near $341,500 home value and $1,044/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Klickitat County
Is Klickitat County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Klickitat County?
How much income do you need for housing in Klickitat County?
What should I double-check before moving to Klickitat County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.