Thinking about moving to the city of Seattle? This guide pulls together the numbers that matter most to newcomers who plan to rent: what housing costs, what kinds of homes are available, how people get to work, and the renter rules that apply. All local figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, published in the Homzora Seattle data library.
Seattle at a glance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Share of occupied homes that are rented | 56.3 percent |
| Median gross rent | $2,030 a month |
| Income needed for the median rent at 30 percent | $81,200 a year |
| Workers who work from home | 34.8 percent |
| Workers who drive alone | 36.7 percent |
| Workers who use public transportation | 11.9 percent |
| Commuters traveling 45 minutes or more | 13.9 percent |
| Homes in buildings with 20 or more units | 38.9 percent |
| Homes built before 1960 | 38.4 percent |
Sources: tenure (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25003), rent (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25064), commuting (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08301; Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08303), housing type (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25024), and year built (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25034).
What rent costs
The median gross rent in the city of Seattle is $2,030 a month (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25064). Gross rent includes contract rent plus utilities the renter pays, so it reflects the full monthly housing cost. Under HUD’s 30 percent benchmark for cost burden (HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, CHAS Background), that rent implies an income of about $81,200 a year. Our salary guide covers the math by apartment size (Homzora, Salary needed to live in Seattle).
What kinds of homes are available
| Type of structure | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single family, detached | 144,993 | 36.8 percent |
| Single family, attached (townhomes, rowhouses) | 24,171 | 6.1 percent |
| Buildings with 2 to 4 units | 21,086 | 5.4 percent |
| Buildings with 5 to 19 units | 49,594 | 12.6 percent |
| Buildings with 20 or more units | 153,057 | 38.9 percent |
| Mobile homes | 590 | 0.1 percent |
These counts cover all housing units, owned and rented, from Census Table B25024 (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25024). A market with many detached homes often has more single family rentals, while a large share of big buildings usually means more professionally managed apartment communities.
How old the housing is
| Year built | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 or later | 82,774 | 21.0 percent |
| 1980 to 2009 | 103,287 | 26.2 percent |
| 1960 to 1979 | 56,603 | 14.4 percent |
| 1940 to 1959 | 61,413 | 15.6 percent |
| 1939 or earlier | 89,841 | 22.8 percent |
Year built comes from Census Table B25034 (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25034). For housing built before 1978, federal rules require landlords to disclose known lead based paint and hazards, provide an EPA pamphlet, and include a lead warning statement with the lease (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lead disclosure rule). If you are touring an older unit, ask for that disclosure before you sign.
Getting around
| How workers get to work | Workers | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 167,910 | 36.7 percent |
| Carpooled | 21,609 | 4.7 percent |
| Public transportation | 54,597 | 11.9 percent |
| Walked | 36,976 | 8.1 percent |
| Bicycle | 11,476 | 2.5 percent |
| Worked from home | 159,285 | 34.8 percent |
Commuting mode comes from Census Table B08301 (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08301). Other modes, such as taxis, motorcycles, and other means, make up the rest.
| Travel time to work | Commuters | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 59,920 | 20.0 percent |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 120,402 | 40.3 percent |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 76,954 | 25.7 percent |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 24,962 | 8.4 percent |
| 60 minutes or more | 16,621 | 5.6 percent |
Travel time covers workers who did not work from home, from Census Table B08303 (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08303). When you compare neighborhoods, test the commute at the hour you would actually travel.
Renter rules to know before you sign
Washington sets no statewide cap on deposits (RCW 59.18.285), but in Seattle the security deposit and fees combined cannot exceed one month’s rent (Renting in Seattle, Move in costs). The landlord must return the deposit or provide a full and specific statement within 30 days after you move out (RCW 59.18.280).
- Seattle renters may pay deposits and fees in installments (Renting in Seattle, Installment payments), and Washington also allows installment requests (RCW 59.18.610).
- A pet deposit of up to 25 percent of one month’s rent may be charged on top of Seattle’s cap (Renting in Seattle, Move in costs).
Our local guides explain deposit rules (Homzora, Seattle security deposit law), how to leave a lease early (Homzora, Breaking a lease in Seattle), and the rules for rent increases (Homzora, Seattle rent increase rules).
Budget for the move
Upfront costs usually include first month’s rent and a security deposit, often plus application fees and utility setup. At the median rent, first month plus a one month deposit is $4,060. Our move in cost guide breaks down the full list (Homzora, Move in costs in Seattle), and first time renters can start with our step by step guide (Homzora, Renting your first apartment in Seattle).
A moving checklist
- Set a budget using the 30 percent benchmark and your expected income.
- Save for move in costs before you start applying.
- Tour homes in person or by live video with the landlord.
- Read the lease in full, including fees and notice terms.
- Document the unit with photos on move in day.
- Submit a change of address with USPS; standard forwarding lasts 12 months, and you still need to notify agencies and companies yourself (USPS, Change of address and mail forwarding).
- Set up utilities and renter’s insurance before move in.
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Help in Seattle
The City of Seattle’s Renting in Seattle helpline answers questions at 206.684.5700 (Renting in Seattle). The Tenants Union of Washington State runs a Tenants Rights Hotline at 206.723.0500 (Tenants Union of Washington State, Tenants Rights Hotline), and WashingtonLawHelp.org publishes free legal information for renters (WashingtonLawHelp.org, Housing). For rental assistance programs, call 211 or visit 211.org.
About the data
All local figures are 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey 5 year estimates. Commuting and housing figures cover all residents and homes, not only renters. Current asking rents for newly listed units are often higher than long term medians.
Choosing a neighborhood from out of town
When you are relocating, narrow your search by the things that will shape daily life: your commute, the kind of building you want, how much space you need, and what you can comfortably pay. Map your workplace first, then look at areas within the commute time you are willing to accept. Visit at different times of day if you can, or ask the landlord for a live video tour that includes the street and the building entrance.
Renting before you arrive
Many people sign a lease before they move, which makes verification especially important. Confirm that the person you are dealing with owns or manages the property, insist on a live tour, read the full lease before paying, and pay only through traceable methods. Consider a shorter first lease if the landlord offers one, so you can move once you know the area better.
Your first weeks
- Walk the neighborhood and learn the routes to work, groceries, and a pharmacy.
- Find the nearest urgent care and hospital.
- Register to vote and update your driver’s license and vehicle registration under your new state’s rules.
- Learn your trash, recycling, and parking rules.
- Save your landlord’s maintenance contact and emergency number.
Questions to ask a landlord when relocating
- Can the lease start on a date that matches my move?
- Is there a shorter lease option?
- Which utilities are included, and what do the others usually cost?
- What are the parking options and costs?
- How are maintenance requests handled after hours?
Living with roommates
If you share your first apartment, put your agreement in writing before you move in. Cover how rent and utilities will be split, who pays the landlord, how the deposit will be divided at move out, quiet hours, guests, cleaning, and what happens if one person wants to leave early. If all roommates sign the lease, each may be responsible for the full rent if another stops paying, so choose roommates carefully.
Building a good rental history
Your first lease starts the rental history future landlords will check. Pay rent on time, keep copies of receipts or bank records, report maintenance problems promptly in writing, and leave the unit clean at move out. A reference from a landlord who can confirm on time payments makes your next application much stronger.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent in Seattle?
The median gross rent is $2,030 a month (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25064).
Do I need a car in Seattle?
41.4 percent of workers drive alone or carpool, 11.9 percent use public transportation, and 34.8 percent work from home (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08301). Your answer depends on where you live and work.
Is most housing old or new?
21.0 percent of homes were built in 2010 or later and 38.4 percent before 1960 (Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25034).
Sources
- Homzora Seattle data library
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25003
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25064
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08301
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B08303
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25024
- Homzora Seattle dataset, Table B25034
- HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, CHAS Background
- Homzora, Salary needed to live in Seattle
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lead disclosure rule
- RCW 59.18.285
- Renting in Seattle, Move in costs
- RCW 59.18.280
- Renting in Seattle, Installment payments
- RCW 59.18.610
- Homzora, Seattle security deposit law
- Homzora, Breaking a lease in Seattle
- Homzora, Seattle rent increase rules
- Homzora, Move in costs in Seattle
- Homzora, Renting your first apartment in Seattle
- USPS, Change of address and mail forwarding
- Renting in Seattle
- Tenants Union of Washington State, Tenants Rights Hotline
- WashingtonLawHelp.org, Housing
- 211.org