At $1,970/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,970 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($101,708) is $2,543 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,370); a 3-bedroom is $3,250.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for La Center. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
La Center, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 30% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How La Center, WA has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $91,375 to $101,708 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.3% shift. Census counts show La Center, WA adding about 412 residents over the five-year window, up 11.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 20.6% to 24.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 21% to 30% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in La Center on your salary?
At $1,970/mo, how La Center rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
La Center rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in La Center. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in La Center
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in La Center is $1,970/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,370/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,250/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($101,708/yr), La Center ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in La Center?
Is rent going up or down in La Center?
How does La Center rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than La Center?
At $1,970/mo, rent takes ~23% of La Center's median household income ($101,708/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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