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City · 13,335 residents · King County, Washington

Lake Forest Park , Washington

In Lake Forest Park, a typical home is worth $953,200 and typical rent is $2,333 a month. Compared with all of King County, typical household income is 28% higher, typical rent is 12% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 25 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $953,200

    11% above the county

    69% above Washington

    • Lake Forest Park
    • King
    • Washington

  • Typical rent

    $2,333a month

    12% above the county

    33% above Washington

    • Lake Forest Park
    • King
    • Washington

  • Typical household income

    $159,904a year

    28% above the county

    63% above Washington

    • Lake Forest Park
    • King
    • Washington

  • Households that own their home

    81%

    25 points above the county

    17 points above Washington

    • Lake Forest Park
    • King
    • Washington

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$981,105
1.6% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,710 a month
1.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Lake Forest Park is in King County. The FHA loan limit ($1,063,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of King County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Lake Forest Park apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 81% of households in Lake Forest Park own their home, against 55% in King County.

  2. Nearby, in Mountlake Terrace, the typical home value is $667,300: 30% less than in Lake Forest Park ($953,200).

  3. The typical household income in Lake Forest Park is $159,904, 28% more than in King County as a whole ($124,746).

  4. Nearby, in Alderwood Manor, the typical rent is $1,919: 18% less than in Lake Forest Park ($2,333).

  5. Lake Forest Park has the 17th highest typical home value of the 191 cities in Washington with more than 5,000 people ($953,200).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Lake Forest Park

What homes there are in Lake Forest Park, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Lake Forest Park: 79% of homes, more than in King County (50%).

Year built

In Lake Forest Park, half of the homes were built before 1968; in King County, before 1983.

In Lake Forest Park, 75% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in King County (50%).

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,697 a month

King County: $3,273 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,181 a month

King County: $1,116 a month

Owners with a mortgage

71%

King County: 70%

In Lake Forest Park, 71% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $3,697 a month, against $3,273 in King County. Without one it drops to $1,181.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Lake Forest Park gained value more slowly than in King County: 53% since 2015–2019, against 57%.

Rents in Lake Forest Park rose faster than in King County: 44% since 2015–2019, against 30%.

The typical household income in Lake Forest Park rose 26%: less than home values (+53%) and rent (+44%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLake Forest ParkKing CountyWashingtonUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.3%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.9%3.5%3.4%
People per household 2.532.392.502.53
Drive alone 52%50%63%69%
Carpool 7%7%9%9%
Public transit 4%7%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate5%4%3%
Work from home 32%29%20%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Lake Forest Park are bigger: 2.53 people on average; in King County, 2.39.

Working from home is more common in Lake Forest Park: 32%, against 29% in King County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Lake Forest Park?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Lake Forest Park, worth $953,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 60% of the typical household income in Lake Forest Park, which is $159,904 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $343,007 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of King County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Lake Forest Park. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $33,362 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$8,003

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$935,935
Total interest
$1,346,591
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $16,097 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,731 a month

  • Tight

    $3,731 to $4,797 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,797 a month

    Your payment · 60%

Compared with the typical household income in Lake Forest Park ($159,904 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$8,003
Principal & interest$6,340
Property tax$691
Home insurance$397
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$575

You need at least $33,362 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Lake Forest Park and King County

Lake Forest Park is in King County, Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Lake Forest Park's own numbers

Typical home value
$953,200
Typical monthly rent
$2,333
Typical yearly household income
$159,904
Households that own their home
81%
Effective property tax rate
0.87%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of King County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,063,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,063,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,549
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+37%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of King County.

Everything about King County

Buying

Buying a home in Lake Forest Park

A typical home in Lake Forest Park is worth $953,200: 11% above the county and 69% above Washington. With the typical household income in Lake Forest Park ($159,904 a year), a typical home costs 6.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Lake Forest Park 6.0 years
  • King 6.9 years
  • Washington 5.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in King County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in King County rose 101% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of King County.

Period County Washington U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.9% +1.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +37% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +101% +113% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Lake Forest Park next to King County, Washington and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Lake Forest Park $953,200
  • King $859,900
  • Washington $564,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Lake Forest Park $2,333
  • King $2,092
  • Washington $1,760
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Lake Forest Park $159,904
  • King $124,746
  • Washington $98,141
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Lake Forest Park next to King County and Washington
Measure Lake Forest Park King County Washington U.S.
Typical home value $953,200 $859,900 $564,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,333 $2,092 $1,760 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $159,904 $124,746 $98,141 $80,734
Households that own their home 81% 55% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,290 $7,114 $4,556 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.87% 0.83% 0.81% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 47% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below King County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lake Forest Park

For a typical $953,200 home in Lake Forest Park, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lake Forest Park's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $8,003a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $33,362
    Cash to close
    $61,958
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $575

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,675a month

    Down payment
    $47,660
    Cash to close
    $76,256
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $453

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,254a month

    Down payment
    $190,640
    Cash to close
    $219,236
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,135a month

    Down payment
    $142,980
    Cash to close
    $171,576
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lake Forest Park and for King County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Lake Forest Park

0.87%of the home’s value each year

$8,290 a year for the typical owner in Lake Forest Park.

  • Lake Forest Park 0.87%
  • King 0.83%
  • Washington 0.81%

What Washington publishes Exemption for people 61 and older or with disabilities (Washington State Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Washington

Flood risk in King County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of King County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
5,797
Of those, with NFIP insurance
44%
County Washington U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 44% 40% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Lake Forest Park

Typical rent in Lake Forest Park is $2,333 a month: 12% above the county. In Lake Forest Park, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of King County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,549 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $49.02 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of King County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,091 $40.21 $83,640
1 bedroom $2,180 $41.92 $87,200
2 bedrooms $2,549 $49.02 $101,960
3 bedrooms $3,324 $63.92 $132,960
4 bedrooms $3,954 $76.04 $158,160

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lake Forest Park

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lake Forest Park is in ZIP code 98155.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,570: $21 more than the fair market rent for King County ($2,549).

  • 98155 $2,570$3,350

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lake Forest Park when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Lake Forest Park

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in King County; 3 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Lake Forest Park

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lake Forest Park or King County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Lake Forest Park the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Washington

  • Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission 0% second mortgage for 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage, with no monthly payments; you do not need to be a first-time buyer. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Covenant Homeownership Program

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission loan with no monthly payments of up to 20% of the price (maximum $150,000) plus closing costs, for first-time buyers whose family lived in Washington before 1968 and belonged to a group affected by housing discrimination, including Hispanic people. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • House Key Opportunity DPA

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission loan of up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers with the House Key Opportunity mortgage. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Lake Forest Park

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lake Forest Park, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Parkview Services

    4720 200th St SW Ste 200, Lynnwood · 4 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (206) 542-6644

  • Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

    105 14th Ave Ste 200, Seattle · 11 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (206) 461-3792

  • Credit.org - Seattle Branch

    450 Alaskan Way S, Seattle · 11 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (800) 431-8157

Every agency in King County All counseling agencies in Washington

Help in Spanish near Lake Forest Park

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Lake Forest Park

HUD’s record names them for Lake Forest Park or King County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Ha of King County Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (206) 574-1100

2 other authorities have an office in King County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in King County

These cities are also in King County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about King County Housing in Washington
See 28 more cities in King County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Lake Forest Park, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If King County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Lake Forest Park.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Lake Forest Park

Short answers with the numbers for Lake Forest Park and all of King County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Lake Forest Park?

The typical home value in Lake Forest Park is $953,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in King County it is $859,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Lake Forest Park?

Typical rent in Lake Forest Park is $2,333 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in King County is $2,549.

What is the FHA loan limit in Lake Forest Park?

Lake Forest Park uses the FHA limit for all of King County (2026): $1,063,750 for a one-unit home and $2,045,700 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Lake Forest Park?

The typical homeowner in Lake Forest Park pays $8,290 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.87% of the home’s value; in King County, the rate is 0.83%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lake Forest Park?

There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in King County. 3 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).