The 99205 zip code in Spokane, Washington tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in the Pacific Northwest.
We looked at 396 zip codes in the region, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest includes Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA 🥇 | 73.3 | $317,775 | $1,370 |
| 2 | Pendleton, OR🥈 | 69.0 | $293,532 | $1,222 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA 🥉 | 68.2 | $296,615 | $1,156 |
| 4 | Toppenish, WA | 66.3 | $274,040 | $2,063 |
| 5 | Idaho Falls, ID | 65.9 | $363,289 | $1,297 |
| 6 | West Richland, WA | 65.9 | $493,312 | $1,934 |
| 7 | Hoquiam, WA | 64.9 | $241,808 | $2,063 |
| 8 | Richland, WA | 64.9 | $416,567 | $1,489 |
| 9 | Nampa, ID | 64.3 | $429,540 | $1,547 |
| 10 | Aberdeen, WA | 64.2 | $272,264 | $1,273 |
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1. Spokane, Washington
Here's why the 99205 zip code in Spokane is the region's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Spokane
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 73.3 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $317,775[1] | No. 9 | -$240,701.83 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.1 | No. 3 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 24.2%[2] | No. 113 | 2.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.2%[3] | No. 73 | -0.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,370[4] | No. 7 | -$482 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.77% | No. 53 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $77,374[5] | No. 175 | -$14,673 |
| Property taxes | $2,480[6] | No. 19 | -$1,489 |
| Energy costs | $0.09 kWh[7] | No. 111 | -$0.01 |
Spokane's 99205 zip code is the cheapest place to live in the Pacific Northwest, leading the 396 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $317,775, making it the 9th-cheapest housing market in the region. Forecasts project a -1.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,370 per month, which is the 53rd-cheapest amount in the Pacific Northwest.
The median property tax for homeowners in Spokane is $2,480 per household, the No. 19 ranked market in the Pacific Northwest.
Residents pay $0.09 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 111 among the region's markets.
2. Pendleton, Oregon
The 97801 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in the Pacific Northwest.
🔎 Key data about Pendleton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 69.0 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $293,532[8] | No. 3 | -$264,944.61 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.1 | No. 1 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 29.7%[9] | No. 119 | 7.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.3%[10] | No. 119 | 1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,222[11] | No. 4 | -$631 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.71% | No. 16 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $71,639[12] | No. 84 | -$20,408 |
| Property taxes | $2,898[13] | No. 26 | -$1,071 |
| Energy costs | $0.08 kWh[14] | No. 30 | -$0.01 |
Pendleton's 97801 zip code has a median home value of $293,532, which is the 119th-cheapest housing market in the Pacific Northwest. You can rent for an average of $1,222 per month. That's the 4th-cheapest price in the region.
The average household income in the zip code is $71,639, which ranks 84th-highest in the Pacific Northwest.
Homeowners in Pendleton pay a median property tax of $2,898 per year, making it the 26th-most affordable market in the region.
Pendleton ranks No. 30 among the region's energy markets. You'll pay $0.08 per kWh of electricity.
3. Yakima, Washington
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in the Pacific Northwest is Yakima's 98902 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Yakima
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 68.2 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $296,615[15] | No. 6 | -$261,861.49 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.7 | No. 19 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 21.9%[16] | No. 79 | 0.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[17] | No. 174 | 0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,156[18] | No. 2 | -$696 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.83% | No. 72 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $63,092[19] | No. 215 | -$28,955 |
| Property taxes | $2,104[20] | No. 7 | -$1,865 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[21] | No. 185 | $0.01 |
The No. 6 cheapest housing market in the Pacific Northwest is Yakima's 98902 zip code, with a median home value of $296,615. Rents in the market average $1,156 per month, making it the 2nd-most affordable rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in Yakima is $2,104, which makes it the 7th-cheapest place in the Pacific Northwest. Yakima ranks No. 185 among the region's markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.11 per kWh of electricity.
4. Toppenish, Washington
The 98948 zip code in Toppenish comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in the Pacific Northwest.
🔎 Key data about Toppenish
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 66.3 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $274,040[22] | No. 3 | -$284,436.39 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 4 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.2%[23] | No. 86 | 0.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.0%[24] | No. 144 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $2,063[25] | No. 112 | $210 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.93% | No. 92 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $65,759[26] | No. 205 | -$26,288 |
| Property taxes | $2,031[27] | No. 6 | -$1,938 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[28] | No. 179 | $0.01 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing market in the Pacific Northwest is Toppenish's 98948 zip code, where the median home value is $274,040. Renters here pay an average of $2,063 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Toppenish ranks 179th among the region's markets. Residents pay $0.11 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $2,031, which makes it the 6th-cheapest market in the Pacific Northwest.
5. Idaho Falls, Idaho
The 83402 zip code in Idaho Falls ranks No. 5 among the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Idaho Falls
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.9 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $363,289[29] | No. 6 | -$195,187.41 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.9 | No. 4 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.8%[30] | No. 27 | 4.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.0%[31] | No. 22 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,297[32] | No. 6 | -$555 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.74% | No. 6 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $74,517[33] | No. 28 | -$17,530 |
| Property taxes | $1,820[34] | No. 12 | -$2,149 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[35] | No. 6 | $0.01 |
Idaho Falls's 83402 zip code has a median home value of $363,289, the 6th-cheapest market in the region. Forecasts project a -1.0% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Idaho Falls is $1,820. It's the 12th-cheapest market by tax rate in the Pacific Northwest.
6. West Richland, Washington
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in the Pacific Northwest is the 99353 zip code in West Richland.
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🔎 Key data about West Richland
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.9 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $493,312[36] | No. 64 | -$65,164.26 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.0 | No. 2 | -2.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 24.4%[37] | No. 120 | 2.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[38] | No. 201 | 0.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,934[39] | No. 84 | $81 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.59% | No. 22 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $121,845[40] | No. 58 | $29,798 |
| Property taxes | $4,094[41] | No. 78 | $125 |
| Energy costs | $0.09 kWh[42] | No. 100 | -$0.01 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with West Richland's 99353 zip code, which has the 64th-cheapest home values in the Pacific Northwest. The median home value is $493,312. Rents average $1,934 per month, making it the 84th-most affordable rental market in the region.
Residents pay $0.09 per kWh of electricity. It's the 100th-cheapest energy market.
7. Hoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam's 98550 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in the Pacific Northwest.
🔎 Key data about Hoquiam
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 64.9 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $241,808[43] | No. 1 | -$316,668.44 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.4 | No. 7 | -1.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.7%[44] | No. 93 | 0.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.2%[45] | No. 1 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,063[46] | No. 112 | $210 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.93% | No. 92 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $55,040[47] | No. 222 | -$37,007 |
| Property taxes | $1,997[48] | No. 5 | -$1,972 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[49] | No. 201 | $0.03 |
You'll find the 1st-cheapest home values in the Pacific Northwest in Hoquiam's 98550 zip code. The median value: $241,808. Renters in Hoquiam pay an average of $2,063 per month.
Homeowners in Hoquiam pay a median property tax of $1,997 per year, which is the region's 5th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $55,040, which ranks 222nd-highest in the Pacific Northwest.
8. Richland, Washington
The 8th-cheapest place to live in the Pacific Northwest is Richland's 99354 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Richland
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 64.9 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $416,567[50] | No. 28 | -$141,909.62 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.5 | No. 11 | -1.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.1%[51] | No. 146 | 4.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[52] | No. 201 | 0.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,489[53] | No. 11 | -$363 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.62% | No. 26 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $91,933[54] | No. 135 | -$114 |
| Property taxes | $3,343[55] | No. 39 | -$626 |
| Energy costs | $0.09 kWh[56] | No. 106 | -$0.01 |
The 28th-cheapest housing market in the Pacific Northwest is Richland's 99354 zip code, with a median home value of $416,567. Renters pay an average of $1,489 per month, the No. 11 rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in Richland is $3,343, which makes it the 39th-cheapest place in the Pacific Northwest. The average household income of $91,933 ranks 135th.
9. Nampa, Idaho
Nampa's 83686 zip code sneaks into the top ten of the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Nampa
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 64.3 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $429,540[57] | No. 23 | -$128,936.41 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.0 | No. 7 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 17.5%[58] | No. 15 | -4.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.4%[59] | No. 2 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,547[60] | No. 12 | -$305 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.79% | No. 8 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $86,518[61] | No. 16 | -$5,529 |
| Property taxes | $2,219[62] | No. 26 | -$1,750 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[63] | No. 9 | $0.02 |
The 23rd-cheapest housing market in the Pacific Northwest is Nampa's 83686 zip code, where the median home value is $429,540. Renters pay an average of $1,547 per month. It's the region's 12th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,219, which makes it the 26th-cheapest property tax rate in the Pacific Northwest.
10. Aberdeen, Washington
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in the Pacific Northwest goes to the 98520 zip code in Aberdeen.
🔎 Key data about Aberdeen
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 396 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 64.2 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $272,264[64] | No. 2 | -$286,212.96 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.7 | No. 16 | -1.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 15.8%[65] | No. 21 | -6.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.0%[66] | No. 2 | -1.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,273[67] | No. 4 | -$580 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.19% | No. 170 | 0.2% |
| Median household income | $58,153[68] | No. 220 | -$33,894 |
| Property taxes | $2,371[69] | No. 16 | -$1,598 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[70] | No. 183 | $0.01 |
The 2nd-most affordable housing market in the Pacific Northwest is Aberdeen's 98520 zip code. The median home value is $272,264. Rent in the market costs $1,273 per month on average, making it the 4th-most affordable rental market in the Pacific Northwest.
The median property tax for households in Aberdeen is $2,371, which is the 16th-cheapest property tax rate in the region.
Aberdeen ranks No. 183 among Pacific Northwest markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.11 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in the Pacific Northwest
We evaluated 396 zip codes in the Pacific Northwest with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a region by zip code.
Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Methodology: What is an Affordability Score?
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in the Pacific Northwest, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
