How much rent can you afford in Lake Stevens, WA?
Run your salary against Lake Stevens's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Lake Stevens
At a median rent of $2,964/mo, Lake Stevens is affordable when measured against Lake Stevens median household income of $122,336/yr. Rent would consume roughly 29% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $118,560 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Lake Stevens compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Lake Stevens?
On a $122,336 salary (the Lake Stevens median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,058/mo. Lake Stevens's median rent is $2,964/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Lake Stevens?
To keep Lake Stevens's $2,964/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $118,560/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Lake Stevens affordable on the median Washington income?
Lake Stevens is affordable on a $122,336 income. Rent would take 29% of pre-tax pay, inside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".