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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Tumwater, WA is $1,975. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Tumwater cheaper than other Washington cities?

Tumwater falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #67 out of 110 cities at $1,975/mo.

When was Tumwater rent data last updated?

Tumwater 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 Tumwater, WA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Tumwater, WA at $1,737 per month, which is 12% below the $1,975 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

Tumwater

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

Pop. 26,956·67th most expensive in Washington·Rental market data updated monthly for Tumwater, WA

Median rent (all units)

$1,975/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.0%

Month-over-Month

+2.8%

vs US Median

+$13

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Tumwater · $1,975

More expensive than 57% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

49/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Tumwater's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,975/mo

Expected by trend

$1,966/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,808

1 BR

$1,496

2 BR

$1,737

3 BR

$2,387

4 BR+

$2,824

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,737/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,975 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

$23,700/yr

At $1,975/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.0% YoY, +2.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Tumwater, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 42.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,956

Median income

$95,212

Median age

37.1

Renters

37.5%

Age distribution

20.8%

24.8%

27.4%

15.6%

Under 1820.8%

18–3424.8%

35–5427.4%

55–6411.4%

65+15.6%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

69.3%

White69.3%

Black4.8%

Hispanic9.3%

Asian7.3%

Other9.3%

Education (25+)

18.2%

35.7%

42.9%

No HS diploma3.2%

HS diploma18.2%

Some college35.7%

Bachelor's+42.9%

Housing tenure

62.5%

37.5%

Owner62.5%

Renter37.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Tumwater, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,727 → $1,975

up 14.4%

Income

$77,849 → $95,212

up 22.3%

Population

24,855 → 26,956

up 8.5%

Renter share

43.6% → 37.5%

-6.1 pts

Bachelor's+

38.1% → 42.9%

+4.8 pts

Median age

35.4 → 37.1

+1.7 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Tumwater, WA has shifted from $1,727 to $1,975, up 14.4% since 2022. On the earnings side, the typical household in Tumwater, WA now reports about $95,212, up from $77,849 in 2021. 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 Tumwater, WA adding about 2,101 residents over the five-year window, up 8.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 43.6% to 37.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 38.1% to 42.9% across the same window. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Tumwater, WA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Tumwater

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View Tumwater rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Tumwater on your salary?

At $1,975/mo, how Tumwater rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 22.4% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 27.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 15.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 12% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 33.7% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 37.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 30.3% income

stretched

By apartment size

Tumwater rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Tumwater

About renting in Tumwater, WA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Tumwater is $1,975/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,808/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,737/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,496/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,387/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($95,212/yr), Tumwater ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Tumwater an affordable city for renters?

Tumwater is considered affordable for renters. At $1,975/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($95,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Tumwater falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Tumwater?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $79,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,975/mo in Tumwater. The local median household income is $95,212/yr, meaning the typical Tumwater household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Tumwater?

Rent in Tumwater has increased 5.0% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Tumwater rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Tumwater is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #67 out of 110 tracked cities at $1,975/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Tumwater?

Centralia is nearby and more affordable at $1,318/mo, which is $657 less than Tumwater.

What percentage of Tumwater residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.5% of Tumwater households are renters, while 62.5% are owner-occupied. Tumwater leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Tumwater rent compare to the national average?

Tumwater's median rent of $1,975/mo is $13 (1%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #67 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,975/mo, rent takes ~25% of Tumwater's median household income ($95,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Tumwater 25%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Tumwater affordability calculator →

Nearby cities