City Report · WA

Selah

Pop. 8,437·95th most expensive in Washington·Selah rents are up 5.6% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,652/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.6%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$280
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Selah · $1,652
More affordable than 65% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,652/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$66,000/yr
Local median income
$74,783/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Selah's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,190
1 BR
$1,200
2 BR
$1,570
3 BR
$2,200
4 BR+
$2,320
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,570/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,652 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in Selah changed +5.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,783) is $1,870 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,570); a 3-bedroom is $2,200.

Cheaper nearby

Yakima, 12 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,330/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Selah. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$19,824/yr
At $1,652/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (5.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.6% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Selah, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 25.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
8,437
Median income
$74,783
Median age
33
Renters
40.6%
Age distribution
28.1%
25.6%
23.6%
14.7%
Under 1828.1%
18–3425.6%
35–5423.6%
55–648%
65+14.7%
Gender
47.2%
52.8%
Male47.2%
Female52.8%
Race & ethnicity
65.6%
28.5%
White65.6%
Hispanic28.5%
Asian2.4%
Other3.2%
Education (25+)
14.5%
28.3%
31.7%
25.5%
No HS diploma14.5%
HS diploma28.3%
Some college31.7%
Bachelor's+25.5%
Housing tenure
59.4%
40.6%
Owner59.4%
Renter40.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Selah, WA has changed in 5 years

Income
$64,468 → $74,783
up 16.0%
Population
8,081 → 8,437
up 4.4%
Renter share
47.4% → 40.6%
-6.8 pts
Bachelor's+
29.5% → 25.5%
-4.0 pts

Household income in the area moved from $64,468 to $74,783 across the same window, up 16.0% versus 2021. The population has grown by 4.4% since 2021, moving from about 8,081 residents to roughly 8,437. Renters now make up 40.6% of households, compared with 47.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 25.5% of adults here, versus 29.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Selah

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View Selah rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Selah on your salary?

At $1,652/mo, how Selah rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Selah rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Selah. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Selah

About renting in Selah, WA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Selah is $1,652/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,200/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($74,783/yr), Selah ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Selah?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,652/mo in Selah. The local median household income is $74,783/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Selah?

Rent in Selah has risen 5.6% over the past year.

How does Selah rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Selah is one of the more affordable among Washington cities for rent, ranking #95 of 109 tracked cities at $1,652/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Selah changed +5.6%, against a typical +2.6% across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Selah?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Selah ($1,652/mo) include Yakima ($1,330/mo), and Ellensburg ($1,487/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,652/mo, rent takes ~27% of Selah's median household income ($74,783/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Selah 27%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Selah, WA

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