salaryRent is higher than in 89% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.8 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 35.2 minutes each way. Most homes (75.6%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $107,360 a year. That is $52 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Washington cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Washington. It is number 166 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Lake Stevens?
Share of households by yearly income. 49.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Lake Stevens
| Size | Lake Stevens | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,616 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,798 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,368 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,155 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Lake Stevens overall?
Everyday prices in Washington overall are 7% above the U.S. average (index 107.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lake Stevens, so the Washington figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Lake Stevens
Life in Lake Stevens
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Stevens?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,726 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $635,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $63,560 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lake Stevens, WA?
Renting in Lake Stevens costs a median of about $2,684 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.
How much do I need to make to live in Lake Stevens?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $107,360 a year, or $52 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Lake Stevens cheap or expensive?
Lake Stevens is rated OK: rent takes 24.4% of the typical household income of $131,939. It ranks 166th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Lake Stevens?
The median homeowner in Lake Stevens pays $5,259 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of the median home value.
Is Lake Stevens more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Washington are 7% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Lake Stevens?
The median home value in Lake Stevens is $635,600, about 4.8 times the typical yearly household income.
40,253 people live in Lake Stevens. Numbers are typical (middle) values.