Rent vs. Buy in Pierce County, WA

Should you rent or buy in Pierce County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$444,600

Median Rent

$1,604/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

23.1x

Homeownership Rate

64.6%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$2,248
Property Tax$363
Insurance$148

Total Monthly$2,759

Renting

Monthly Rent$1,604
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$1,629

In Pierce County, buying costs approximately $1,155/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Pierce County, Washington

Pierce County in Washington has a median household income of $91,486 and an effective property tax rate of 1.0%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 23.1x, renting may be more cost-effective in the short term.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Washington

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.