Rents are 4% below what Mill Creek'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 $2,391 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
December. Asking rents in Mill Creek usually run 1.9% below trend in December and 1.9% above it in July, about $91 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Mill Creek is 0.1% below its high of $2,394 in January 2026, at $2,391 as of September 2026.
Rent in Mill Creek changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($124,364) is $3,109 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,103); a 4-bedroom is $3,308.
Lynnwood, 4 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,122/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mill Creek. 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
Mill Creek, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 56% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mill Creek, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Mill Creek, WA has increased from $1,920 to $2,391, a 24.5% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $112,072 to $124,364 across the same window, up 11.0% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 20,665 residents to roughly 20,956. College-educated residents now make up 56% of adults here, versus 51.2% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mill Creek, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Mill Creek on your salary?
At $2,391/mo, how Mill Creek rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mill Creek rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mill Creek. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mill Creek
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mill Creek is $2,391/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,875/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,322/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,973/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,103/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($124,364/yr), Mill Creek ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Mill Creek?
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How does Mill Creek rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $2,391/mo, rent takes ~23% of Mill Creek's median household income ($124,364/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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