Rents are 10% below what Lake Stevens'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 $2,982 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 Lake Stevens usually run 1.9% below trend in February and 1.6% above it in June, about $104 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Lake Stevens is 0.6% below its high of $2,999 in June 2026, at $2,982 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lake Stevens changed +0.3% 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 Lake Stevens rose 39.2% while median household income rose 31% ($93,381 to $122,336). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lake Stevens is 37.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($122,336) is $3,058 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,720); a 3-bedroom is $3,590.
Marysville, 6 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,499/mo), about $5,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lake Stevens. 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.
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Who lives here
Lake Stevens, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 35% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lake Stevens, WA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Lake Stevens, WA stood at $2,281 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,982, reflecting a 30.7% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lake Stevens, WA now reports about $122,336, up from $99,296 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 14.6% since 2021, moving from about 35,135 residents to roughly 40,253. College-educated residents now make up 35% of adults here, versus 29.6% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lake Stevens, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,982/mo, how Lake Stevens rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lake Stevens rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lake Stevens. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lake Stevens
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lake Stevens is $2,982/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,280/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,720/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,340/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,590/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($122,336/yr), Lake Stevens ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lake Stevens?
At $2,982/mo, rent takes ~29% of Lake Stevens's median household income ($122,336/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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