Rents are 6% below what Mountlake Terrace's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Mountlake Terrace's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Mountlake Terrace usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in August, about $36 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Mountlake Terrace is 0.8% below its high of $2,130 in November 2025, at $2,112 as of September 2026.
Rent in Mountlake Terrace changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($107,687) is $2,692 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,540); a 3-bedroom is $3,350.
Bremerton, 22 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,879/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mountlake Terrace. 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
Mountlake Terrace, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 43% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mountlake Terrace, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Mountlake Terrace, WA has climbed from $1,665 to $2,112, a 26.8% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Mountlake Terrace, WA now reports about $107,687, up from $87,785 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 8.9% since 2021, moving from about 21,210 residents to roughly 23,104. College-educated residents now make up 43% of adults here, versus 38.6% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Mountlake Terrace, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Mountlake Terrace on your salary?
At $2,112/mo, how Mountlake Terrace rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mountlake Terrace rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mountlake Terrace. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mountlake Terrace
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mountlake Terrace is $2,112/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,627/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,665/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,558/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($107,687/yr), Mountlake Terrace ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mountlake Terrace?
At $2,112/mo, rent takes ~24% of Mountlake Terrace's median household income ($107,687/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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