%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All markets

Best Cities for Rental Property in Washington

22 Washington cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Washington markets is 2.4%, with median home prices averaging $485K and rents averaging $1,726/mo. Aberdeen leads with a 3.5% cap rate at a $315K median price. Property taxes average 0.93% across Washington markets.

2.4%
Avg Cap Rate
$485K
Avg Price
$1,726/mo
Avg Rent
22
Cities Tracked

Washington Rental Market Analysis

Washington offers 22 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 2.4% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Washington home prices average $485K, which is 46% above the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,726/mo.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.93% across Washington, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $737 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Kennewick has the lowest rate at 0.9%.Vacancy averages 4.6%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Washington averages 1.10% per year, led by Kennewick at 1.5%. Home values are appreciating at 2.8% annually on average. Strong population growth is driving housing demand and supporting both rent increases and price appreciation across the state.

Bottom line: Washington is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →

How Washington Compares to National Averages

Metric
Washington
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
2.4%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$485K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,726/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.93%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
4.6%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
1.10%/yr
0.92%/yr

Washington Cities by Cap Rate Tier

3% – 4% (2)Below 3% (20)

All 22 Washington Cities Ranked

1
Aberdeen, WA3.5% cap rate
$315K median$1,430/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
2
Moses Lake, WA3.3% cap rate
$355K median$1,560/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
3
Port Angeles, WA2.8% cap rate
$485K median$1,940/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
4
Pullman, WA2.8% cap rate
$320K median$1,270/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
5
Kennewick, WA2.7% cap rate
$435K median$1,680/mo rent0.9% tax1.5% growth
6
Walla Walla, WA2.6% cap rate
$405K median$1,540/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
7
Mount Vernon, WA2.6% cap rate
$575K median$2,180/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
8
Olympia, WA2.6% cap rate
$525K median$1,990/mo rent0.94% tax0.8% growth
9
Shelton, WA2.6% cap rate
$445K median$1,670/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
10
Yakima, WA2.6% cap rate
$345K median$1,290/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
11
Spokane Valley, WA2.4% cap rate
$410K median$1,490/mo rent0.92% tax1.5% growth
12
Centralia, WA2.4% cap rate
$425K median$1,540/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
13
Spokane, WA2.4% cap rate
$410K median$1,490/mo rent0.94% tax1.2% growth
14
Wenatchee, WA2.4% cap rate
$510K median$1,820/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
15
Bremerton, WA2.2% cap rate
$575K median$1,980/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
16
Longview, WA2.2% cap rate
$415K median$1,420/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
17
Oak Harbor, WA2.1% cap rate
$625K median$2,100/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
18
Vancouver, WA2.1% cap rate
$540K median$1,780/mo rent0.9% tax1.5% growth
19
Bellingham, WA1.9% cap rate
$605K median$1,920/mo rent0.92% tax1% growth
20
Ellensburg, WA1.9% cap rate
$480K median$1,520/mo rent0.93% tax1.1% growth
21
Seattle, WA1.7% cap rate
$740K median$2,180/mo rent0.92% tax0.8% growth
22
Tacoma, WA1.6% cap rate
$740K median$2,180/mo rent0.96% tax0.6% growth

Other West States

New Mexico (12 cities · 5.0% avg)Alaska (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Arizona (17 cities · 3.5% avg)Hawaii (5 cities · 3.1% avg)Nevada (11 cities · 3.1% avg)California (38 cities · 3.0% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington a good state for rental property investing?
Washington has an average cap rate of 2.4% across 22 cities. The best-performing city is Aberdeen at 3.5%. Average home prices of $485K are above the national average. Property taxes at 0.93% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Washington?
Aberdeen leads Washington with a 3.5% cap rate, $315K median price, and $1,430/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Kennewick (1.5% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Washington?
Property taxes in Washington average 0.93%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Kennewick at 0.9%. On an average-priced home of $485K, annual taxes are approximately $4,506.
How many Washington cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 22 Washington cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

Explore More

The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.