How much does it cost to rent in Spanaway, WA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Spanaway, WA is $2,812. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Spanaway cheaper than other Washington cities?

Spanaway is one of the pricier cities in Washington, ranking #12 out of 110 cities tracked at $2,812/mo.

When was Spanaway rent data last updated?

Spanaway rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Spanaway, WA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Spanaway, WA at $2,210 per month, which is 21% below the $2,812 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · WA

Spanaway

Name: Average Rent Prices in Spanaway, WA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 34,019·12th most expensive in Washington·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,812/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

-1.0%

vs US Median

+$850

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Spanaway rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Spanaway · $2,812

More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

70/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Spanaway's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,812/mo

Expected by trend

$3,131/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Spanaway's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,590

1 BR

$1,800

2 BR

$2,210

3 BR

$3,100

4 BR+

$3,540

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,210/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,812 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$33,744/yr

At $2,812/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, -1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Spanaway, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 16.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,019

Median income

$98,251

Median age

33.7

Renters

26.3%

Age distribution

27.6%

25.5%

25.1%

Under 1827.6%

18–3425.5%

35–5425.1%

55–6411.2%

65+10.6%

Gender

52.3%

47.7%

Male52.3%

Female47.7%

Race & ethnicity

51.2%

18.4%

13.8%

White51.2%

Black9.7%

Hispanic18.4%

Asian6.9%

Other13.8%

Education (25+)

34.5%

39.4%

16.6%

No HS diploma9.5%

HS diploma34.5%

Some college39.4%

Bachelor's+16.6%

Housing tenure

73.7%

26.3%

Owner73.7%

Renter26.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Spanaway, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,188 → $2,812

up 28.5%

Income

$81,018 → $98,251

up 21.3%

Population

34,670 → 34,019

down 1.9%

Renter share

29.1% → 26.3%

-2.8 pts

Bachelor's+

12.2% → 16.6%

+4.4 pts

Median age

31.7 → 33.7

+2.0 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Spanaway, WA has climbed by $624 per month, settling near $2,812 after starting the period at $2,188. Median household income grew from $81,018 to $98,251 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.3% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 34,670 to 34,019 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. About 26.3% of households rent today, against 29.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 12.2% to 16.6%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Spanaway, WA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Spanaway

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View Spanaway rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Spanaway on your salary?

At $2,812/mo, how Spanaway rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 44.9% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 39% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 21.8% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 17.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 48% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 53.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 43.1% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Spanaway rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Spanaway

About renting in Spanaway, WA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Spanaway is $2,812/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,590/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,100/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($98,251/yr), Spanaway ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Spanaway an affordable city for renters?

Spanaway is considered moderate for renters. At $2,812/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($98,251/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Spanaway slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Spanaway?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $112,000/year (~$54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,812/mo in Spanaway. The local median household income is $98,251/yr, meaning the typical Spanaway household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Spanaway?

Rent in Spanaway has increased 4.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Spanaway rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Spanaway is one of the pricier cities in Washington for rent, ranking #12 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,812/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Spanaway?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Spanaway ($2,812/mo): Parkland ($1,703/mo), Midland ($2,006/mo), Clover Creek ($2,066/mo).

What percentage of Spanaway residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 26.3% of Spanaway households are renters, while 73.7% are owner-occupied. Spanaway leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Spanaway rent compare to the national average?

Spanaway's median rent of $2,812/mo is $850 (43%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #12 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $2,812/mo, rent takes ~34% of Spanaway's median household income ($98,251/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Spanaway 34%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Spanaway affordability calculator →

Nearby cities