Rents are 12% below what Kent's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Kent's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Kent usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in July, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Kent is 0.6% below its high of $1,970 in August 2026, at $1,958 as of September 2026.
Rent in Kent changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Kent rose 26.5% while median household income rose 28.1% ($72,062 to $92,302). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Kent is 27.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($92,302) is $2,308 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,090); a 2-bedroom is $2,433.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Kent, 98032 ($1,951/mo), costs 1% more than the cheapest, 98031 ($1,935/mo).
Burien, 8 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,748/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kent. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Kent, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 29.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kent, WA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Kent, WA paid around $1,597 a month. That figure now sits near $1,958, up 22.6% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Kent, WA now reports about $92,302, up from $79,781 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 44.3% to 42.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.8% to 29.8% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Kent, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Kent
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Kent on your salary?
At $1,958/mo, how Kent rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kent rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kent. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kent
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kent is $1,958/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,508/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,798/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,545/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,370/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($92,302/yr), Kent ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Kent?
Is rent going up or down in Kent?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Kent?
Has rent outpaced income in Kent?
Which Kent neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Kent rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $1,958/mo, rent takes ~25% of Kent's median household income ($92,302/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Kent.
No discussions yet.