City · 40,253 residents · Snohomish County, Washington
Lake Stevens, Washington
In Lake Stevens, a typical home is worth $635,600 and typical rent is $2,224 a month. Compared with all of Snohomish County, typical rent is 14% higher, typical household income is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $603,865 to $685,861.
Typical rent
$2,982a month
= about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $2,455 to $2,982.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lake Stevens is in Snohomish 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 Snohomish County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Snohomish, the typical rent is $1,654: 26% less than in Lake Stevens ($2,224).
2
76% of households in Lake Stevens own their home, against 68% in Snohomish County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lake Stevens
What homes there are in Lake Stevens, 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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Kind of home: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Detached house
83%
64%
62%
61%
Attached house
5%
5%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
21%
22%
19%
Mobile home
2%
5%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 83% of homes here, against 64% in Snohomish County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Year built: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Before 1960
6%
12%
21%
26%
1960–1979
17%
23%
23%
24%
1980–1999
33%
33%
27%
25%
2000–2009
22%
18%
15%
14%
2010 or later
21%
15%
14%
11%
Here half of the homes date from 1997 or later; in Snohomish County, from 1990 or later.
In Lake Stevens, 85% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Snohomish County (66%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K3%
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K20%
$500K–$750K48%
$750K–$1M19%
$1M or more9%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Under $100K
3%
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
20%
$500K–$750K
48%
$750K–$1M
19%
$1M or more
9%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49910%
$1,500–$1,99925%
$2,000–$2,49922%
$2,500–$2,99918%
$3,000 or more20%
Monthly rent with utilities: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
10%
$1,500–$1,999
25%
$2,000–$2,499
22%
$2,500–$2,999
18%
$3,000 or more
20%
With a mortgage
$2,700 a month
Snohomish County: $2,748 a month
Without a mortgage
$768 a month
Snohomish County: $864 a month
Owners with a mortgage
80%
Snohomish County: 72%
In Lake Stevens, 80% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $2,700 a month, about the same as in Snohomish County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lake Stevens+78%
Snohomish County+73%
Washington+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lake Stevens+33%
Snohomish County+36%
Washington+40%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lake Stevens+31%
Snohomish County+28%
Washington+33%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Typical home value
+78%
+73%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+33%
+36%
+40%
+33%
Typical household income
+31%
+28%
+33%
+29%
The typical home value in Lake Stevens rose 78% since 2015–2019, more than in Snohomish County (73%).
Much as in Snohomish County, the typical rent in Lake Stevens rose 33% since 2015–2019.
While home values in Lake Stevens changed +78% and rent +33%, the typical household income rose 31%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lake Stevens and its comparisons
Measure
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.0%
4.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.5%
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.7%
3.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.92
2.64
2.50
2.53
Drive alone
66%
65%
63%
69%
Carpool
9%
9%
9%
9%
Public transit
2%
3%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
4%
3%
Work from home
21%
20%
20%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Lake Stevens are bigger: 2.92 people on average; in Snohomish County, 2.64.
To get to work, 66% of workers in Lake Stevens drive alone; in Snohomish County, 65%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lake Stevens?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Lake Stevens, worth $635,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 51% of the typical household income in Lake Stevens, which is $122,336 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $223,430 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Snohomish County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Lake Stevens. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $22,246 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$5,213
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$624,088
Total interest
$897,916
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $10,734 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,855 a month
Tight
$2,855 to $3,670 a month
Hard
more than $3,670 a month
Your payment · 51%
Compared with the typical household income in Lake Stevens ($122,336 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$4,228
Property tax
$440
Home insurance
$265
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$281
You need at least $22,246 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $5,213; principal and interest $4,228.
The city and its county
Lake Stevens and Snohomish County
Lake Stevens is in Snohomish 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 Stevens
Map of Snohomish County, Washington, with Lake Stevens marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Other cities with a page
Lake Stevens's own numbers
Typical home value
$635,600
Typical monthly rent
$2,224
Typical yearly household income
$122,336
Households that own their home
76%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Snohomish 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)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.9%
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 Snohomish County.
A typical home in Lake Stevens is worth $635,600: 9% below the county and 13% above Washington. With the typical household income in Lake Stevens ($122,336 a year), a typical home costs 5.2 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 Stevens5.2 years
Snohomish6.3 years
Washington5.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Snohomish County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Snohomish County rose 128% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Snohomish County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Snohomish County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +11.6% +11.6% 2016
2017: +12.2% +12.2% 2017
2018: +10.1% +10.1% 2018
2019: +4.4% +4.4% 2019
2020: +5.0% +5.0% 2020
2021: +16.2% +16.2% 2021
2022: +18.1% +18.1% 2022
2023: +1.9% +1.9% 2023
2024: +6.5% +6.5% 2024
2025: +1.3% +1.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Snohomish County, Washington and the United States
Period
County
Washington
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.3%
+1.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+51%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+128%
+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 Stevens next to Snohomish 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 Stevens$635,600
Snohomish$696,000
Washington$564,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lake Stevens$2,224
Snohomish$1,949
Washington$1,760
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lake Stevens$122,336
Snohomish$111,246
Washington$98,141
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lake Stevens next to Snohomish County and Washington
Measure
Lake Stevens
Snohomish County
Washington
U.S.
Typical home value
$635,600 ▼9% below the county
$696,000
$564,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,224 ▲14% above the county
$1,949
$1,760
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$122,336 ▲10% above the county
$111,246
$98,141
$80,734
Households that own their home
76% ▲7 points above the county
68%
64%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$5,259
$5,364
$4,556
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.83% ▲0.06 points above the county
0.77%
0.81%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
59% ▲5 points above the county
54%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Snohomish 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 Stevens
For a typical $635,600 home in Lake Stevens, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lake Stevens's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$5,213a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$22,246
Cash to close
$41,314
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $281
Conventional, 5% down$5,097a month
Down payment
$31,780
Cash to close
$50,848
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $302
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$4,149a month
Down payment
$127,120
Cash to close
$146,188
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$4,737a month
Down payment
$95,340
Cash to close
$114,408
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lake Stevens
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$5,213
$22,246
$624,088
7.18%
FHA MIP · $281
$41,314
580
Conventional, 5% down
$5,097
$31,780
$603,820
7.18%
PMI · $302
$50,848
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$4,149
$127,120
$508,480
7.18%
None
$146,188
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$4,737
$95,340
$540,260
8.18%
None
$114,408
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Lake Stevens is $2,224 a month: 14% above the county. In Lake Stevens, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Snohomish 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.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Snohomish County (Fiscal year 2027)
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 Stevens
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lake Stevens is in ZIP code 98258.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,730: $181 more than the fair market rent for Snohomish County ($2,549).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lake Stevens, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
98258
$2,240
$2,330
$2,730
$3,560
$4,230
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
98258 $2,730$3,560
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 Stevens 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lake Stevens. These are the largest.
Cedarwood II9929 5th Pl SE, Lake Stevens 9825840 low-income homes · For families(425) 335-5406
Cedarwood II420 101st Ave SE, Lake Stevens 9825840 homes, 39 low-income · 2 bd: 26 · 3 bd: 12 · 4 bd: 1 · In service since 2004 · For people with disabilities
Lake Village East420 97th Dr NE, Lake Stevens 9825830 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 6 · In service since 2017 · For older adults, people with disabilities
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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Snohomish County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lake Stevens or Snohomish County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Lake Stevens the same as in the rest of the state.
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.
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.
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.
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lake Stevens, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
PS
Parkview Services
4720 200th St SW Ste 200, Lynnwood · 16 miles away · Spanish
Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages.
No legal help resource on our list is for Lake Stevens or Snohomish County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Lake Stevens and all of Snohomish 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 Stevens?
The typical home value in Lake Stevens is $635,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Snohomish County it is $696,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Lake Stevens?
Typical rent in Lake Stevens is $2,224 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Snohomish County is $2,549.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lake Stevens?
Lake Stevens uses the FHA limit for all of Snohomish 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 Stevens?
The typical homeowner in Lake Stevens pays $5,259 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Snohomish County, the rate is 0.77%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lake Stevens?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Snohomish County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
