Washington has the sixth-highest rents in the nation, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data.
The bureau released 2023 American Community Survey data in October that puts median rent in the state — as well as in Clark County — at $1,731.
Only California, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., Colorado and Massachusetts had higher rents.
“Washington continues to have housing costs that are getting further out of reach for the many people in communities across the state that need stable, affordable housing,” said Michele Thomas, director of policy and advocacy for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.
Robin Zorich’s rent has jumped from $610 to $1,300 since moving into her Woodland manufactured home seven years ago. Zorich, president of the Washington Association of Manufactured Home Owners, owns her home but pays rent for the land underneath it.
“It’s happening all over the state,” Zorich said. “I haven’t heard of anybody’s rent not going up.”
Washington ranked 17th for the number of renters spending 30 percent or more of their household income on rent and utilities.
Other data
Clark County has 35,586 people living at or below the poverty level, according to the American Community Survey data.
Washington ranked 22nd for the percentage of households that receive food stamps, according to the data. About 25,000 Clark County residents use the program.
A bureau report pointed to the intersection between the higher housing costs and the greater need for food and social service assistance.
High housing costs are a top concern for advocates as they look toward the 2025 state legislative session. Thomas said housing advocates will lobby for rent stabilization. Last session, they backed House Bill 2114, which died. The bill would have limited rent and fee increases to 7 percent.
“We need rent stabilization and need more affordable housing,” Thomas said. “We need to ensure that people can meet their basic needs and that people have access to safety-net services when needed in order to stabilize their lives and keep a roof over their heads.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the numbers of Clark County residents in poverty and receiving food stamps.
