Rents are right about where Mount Vernon's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,402 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
Rent in Mount Vernon is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.
Rent in Mount Vernon changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($75,777) is $1,894 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,500); a 2-bedroom is $1,960.
Stanwood, 12 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,133/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mount Vernon. 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
Mount Vernon, WA is majority owner-occupied, 27.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mount Vernon, WA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Mount Vernon, WA has shifted from $2,126 to $2,402, up 13.0% since 2023. Census figures show median household income at $75,777 today, compared with $62,706 five years earlier. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Mount Vernon, WA adding about 553 residents over the five-year window, up 1.6% on net. The renter share has risen from 37.4% to 39.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.4% to 27.9% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Mount Vernon on your salary?
At $2,402/mo, how Mount Vernon rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mount Vernon rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mount Vernon. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mount Vernon
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mount Vernon is $2,402/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,340/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,500/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,750/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($75,777/yr), Mount Vernon ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mount Vernon?
Is rent going up or down in Mount Vernon?
How does Mount Vernon rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mount Vernon?
At $2,402/mo, rent takes ~38% of Mount Vernon's median household income ($75,777/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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