Rents are 11% below what Lacey's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,075 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Lacey usually run 1% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in August, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Lacey is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Lacey changed +1.8% 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 Lacey rose 39.8% while median household income rose 33.9% ($67,687 to $90,625). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lacey is 42.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,625) is $2,266 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,053); a 3-bedroom is $2,813.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Lacey, 98513 ($2,329/mo), costs 16% more than the cheapest, 98503 ($2,004/mo).
Steilacoom, 13 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,805/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lacey. 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
Lacey, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 34.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lacey, WA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Lacey, WA has increased by $430 per month, settling near $2,075 after starting the period at $1,645. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lacey, WA now reports about $90,625, up from $75,059 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 52,572 to 57,737 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.8% change. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lacey, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Lacey
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Lacey on your salary?
At $2,075/mo, how Lacey rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lacey rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lacey. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lacey
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lacey is $2,075/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,557/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,053/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,767/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,813/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($90,625/yr), Lacey ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lacey?
Is rent going up or down in Lacey?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Lacey?
Has rent outpaced income in Lacey?
Which Lacey neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Lacey rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lacey?
At $2,075/mo, rent takes ~27% of Lacey's median household income ($90,625/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 Lacey.
No discussions yet.