Matt Case - December 29, 2025 

OLYMPIA — For generations, homeownership has been the backbone of the American dream — a place to build wealth, stability, and roots. But in Washington, that dream is feeling more like a moving target. Prices remain near record highs, younger buyers are getting squeezed out, and even with incomes nudging upward and mortgage rates cooling, many families are hitting the same wall: affordability.

Real estate data from Redfin shows the pressure clearly. Even as buyers and sellers wait for the market to “break loose,” home prices remain stubborn, keeping would-be homeowners stuck on the sidelines. Still, there are pockets of relief — places where residents spend roughly 30% of their income or less on housing, long considered the benchmark for affordability.

Redfin ranked Washington’s most affordable cities using average payment-to-income ratios from January through October 2025. While none are cheap by national standards, some communities offer buyers a fighting chance.

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🔹 Washington’s Most Affordable Cities, According to Redfin

1. Graham — 38.5% payment-to-income
Median sale price: $580,640 | Median income: $115,501
Monthly payment: $3,707

2. Richland — 38.9%
Median sale price: $469,946 | Monthly payment: $3,000

3. Spanaway — 40.2%
Median sale price: $492,881 | Monthly payment: $3,147

4. Maple Valley — 40.3%
Median sale price: $775,955 | Monthly payment: $4,954

5. Pasco — 40.4%
Median sale price: $427,980 | Monthly payment: $2,732

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📍Mid-Range But Climbing

These communities remain within reach — but the margin is shrinking:

• South Hill — 43.3%

• Lacey — 44.9%

• Tacoma — 45.0%

• Kennewick — 45.2%

• Lake Stevens — 46.4%

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📍Where the Dream Gets Tough

By the time buyers reach the bottom of the list, the math speaks for itself:

• Auburn — 51.6%

• Parkland — 51.9%

• Olympia — 53.9% (Median mortgage: $3,456)

In many of these cities, buyers need significantly higher incomes than what residents actually earn — creating a gap between what’s on the market and what’s realistically attainable.

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🔹 Washington’s 20 Most Affordable Housing Markets (Redfin, 2025)

1. Graham — 38.5% payment-to-income
Median sale price: $580,640 | Income: $115,501 | Payment: $3,707

2. Richland — 38.9%
$469,946 | $92,550 income | $3,000/mo

3. Spanaway — 40.2%
$492,881 | $94,028 income | $3,147/mo

4. Maple Valley — 40.3%
$775,955 | $147,546 income | $4,954/mo

5. Pasco — 40.4%
$427,980 | $81,130 income | $2,732/mo

6. Orchards — 42.0%
$531,354 | $96,893 income | $3,392/mo

7. South Hill — 43.3%
$616,752 | $109,235 income | $3,937/mo

8. Lacey — 44.9%
$511,158 | $87,277 income | $3,263/mo

9. Tacoma — 45.0%
$492,132 | $83,857 income | $3,142/mo

10. Kennewick — 45.2%
$430,147 | $72,867 income | $2,746/mo

11. Lake Stevens — 46.4%
$715,680 | $118,290 income | $4,569/mo

12. Camas — 46.7%
$853,223 | $140,053 income | $5,447/mo

13. Mill Creek East — 46.9%
$1,122,640 | $183,466 income | $7,167/mo

14. Puyallup — 47.2%
$589,508 | $95,639 income | $3,763/mo

15. Bremerton — 48.9%
$475,112 | $74,399 income | $3,033/mo

16. Vancouver — 49.3%
$502,762 | $78,156 income | $3,210/mo

17. Marysville — 50.1%
$656,392 | $100,362 income | $4,190/mo

18. Auburn — 51.6%
$642,803 | $95,367 income | $4,104/mo

19. Parkland — 51.9%
$486,903 | $71,829 income | $3,108/mo

20. Olympia — 53.9%
$541,345 | $76,930 income | $3,456/mo

Bottom Line

Washington’s housing market isn’t impossible — but it’s a grind. Affordability still exists, but it’s pocketed, competitive, and inching away faster than wages rise. For many, the dream isn’t gone… it’s just harder to catch.