Home Affordability in King County, WA
A typical home in King County is worth $853,410, down 2.2% year over year. The effective property tax rate is 0.83% of value, and the 2026 conforming loan limit here is $1,063,750 — borrow more than that and you need a jumbo loan.
Assumes housing costs stay at 33% of gross income — the sustainable middle, not the maximum a lender would approve. A typical home in King County costs $853,410. Rates as of 5 September 2026; they move weekly and your quote will differ.
What each income buys here
| Household income | Conventional | VA | Zero-down CU | FHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 | $318,000 | $263,000 | $241,000 | $257,000 |
| $100,000 | $436,000 | $360,000 | $330,000 | $352,000 |
| $125,000 | $553,000 | $457,000 | $419,000 | $447,000 |
| $150,000 | $670,000 | $554,000 | $508,000 | $542,000 |
| $200,000 | $905,000 | $748,000 | $687,000 | $732,000 |
Conventional assumes 20% down. VA and credit-union 100% financing assume zero down with the funding fee financed into the loan; FHA assumes 3.5% down with mortgage insurance for the life of the loan. All hold housing at 33% of gross income and cap total debt at the program’s underwriting limit.
Towns in King County
| Town | Typical home | Year over year | Income needed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $851,471 | -1.8% | $189,000 | Details |
| Bellevue | $1,451,887 | -3.9% | $316,000 | Details |
| Renton | $746,360 | -2% | $166,000 | Details |
| Kent | $647,138 | -1.3% | $145,000 | Details |
| Auburn | $609,464 | -0.4% | $137,000 | Details |
| Federal Way | $598,030 | -0.7% | $135,000 | Details |
| Redmond | $1,352,192 | -4% | $295,000 | Details |
| Kirkland | $1,212,741 | -5.2% | $265,000 | Details |
| Sammamish | $1,557,390 | -5.6% | $339,000 | Details |
| Shoreline | $803,451 | -2.5% | $178,000 | Details |
| Issaquah | $1,137,397 | -2.2% | $249,000 | Details |
| Burien | $643,360 | -0.6% | $144,000 | Details |
| Woodinville | $1,351,599 | -3.5% | $295,000 | Details |
| Maple Valley | $784,011 | -2.4% | $174,000 | Details |
| Seatac | $589,243 | -0.5% | $133,000 | Details |
| Des Moines | $607,792 | -0.9% | $137,000 | Details |
| Mercer Island | $2,295,406 | -1.6% | $496,000 | Details |
| Kenmore | $1,008,245 | -4.3% | $222,000 | Details |
| Tukwila | $578,581 | -0.7% | $130,000 | Details |
| Enumclaw | $675,272 | -0.3% | $151,000 | Details |
| Covington | $664,783 | -2% | $149,000 | Details |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway | $662,366 | -2.2% | $148,000 | Details |
| North Bend | $1,005,168 | -1.5% | $221,000 | Details |
| Snoqualmie | $1,086,676 | -3% | $239,000 | Details |
| Lake Forest Park | $1,024,649 | -1.8% | $225,000 | Details |
| Duvall | $950,294 | -2.5% | $210,000 | Details |
| Newcastle | $1,378,115 | -1.9% | $301,000 | Details |
| Carnation | $1,004,023 | -1.3% | $221,000 | Details |
| Vashon | $901,719 | -2.3% | $199,000 | Details |
| Ravensdale | $881,951 | -2.1% | $195,000 | Details |
| Black Diamond | $764,109 | -2.6% | $170,000 | Details |
| Normandy Park | $1,037,253 | +0.1% | $228,000 | Details |
| Fall City | $1,190,300 | -0.9% | $261,000 | Details |
| Pacific | $555,438 | -0.4% | $126,000 | Details |
| Algona | $531,690 | -1.4% | $120,000 | Details |
| Riverton-Boulevard Park | $530,141 | +0.1% | $120,000 | Details |
| Clyde Hill | $4,083,737 | -2.2% | $877,000 | Details |
| Medina | $4,597,261 | -2% | $986,000 | Details |
| Yarrow Point | $4,351,223 | -2.9% | $934,000 | Details |
| Hunts Point | $7,501,416 | +1% | $1,604,000 | Details |
Showing the 40 largest of 43 places.
The cheapest places in the county are Skykomish ($485K), Riverton-Boulevard Park ($530K), Algona ($532K).
How the zero-down math actually works
Putting nothing down does not simply move the down payment to zero — it costs you twice. Zero-down programs price above conventional, and they finance a funding fee into the balance, so you start out owing more than the house cost. In King County that difference is worth roughly $162K of purchasing power at a $150,000 income.
The exception is the VA loan. If anyone on the loan is Active Duty, Reserve, or a Veteran, it prices below conventional and charges no mortgage insurance — and the funding fee is waived entirely with any VA disability rating. It is almost always the cheapest zero-down option, and it is worth about $46K more house than a credit-union 100% loan here.