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Snohomish County, WA

RANK #447 / 996  ·  POP 828,337  ·  WA

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.9%

Snohomish County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why Snohomish County?

Snohomish County, Washington, offers a distinctive blend of natural beauty and community character, situated between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, about 30 minutes north of Seattle. The city of Snohomish, known as the "Antique Capital of the Northwest," features a walkable historic downtown with antique dealers, boutiques, and local eateries. The county boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including over 400 lakes, major river systems for kayaking and rafting, and numerous parks with miles of trails for hiking and biking. Popular spots include the 30-mile Centennial Trail and Lord Hill Regional Park, offering forested trails for various activities.

Life in Snohomish County appeals to families and individuals seeking a balance between natural surroundings and access to urban amenities. Commute options to Seattle are available via public transportation, including bus and Sounder Commuter Rail services. The county's economy is significantly driven by the aerospace industry, with Boeing's largest aircraft manufacturing complex located in Everett, the county seat. Other key sectors include agriculture, life sciences, and technology manufacturing. Snohomish County also has multiple school districts, such as Everett Public Schools and Snohomish School District, which prepare students for post-secondary education.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
9.8x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+1.8%

Below national median

Home Prices
-1.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
4.7

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
23x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks overvalued at 9.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Snohomish County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
828,337
+1.01% YoY
Median Household Income
$104,083
Median Home Value
$592,800
-1.2% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,794
Average Annual Pay
$79,940
+1.4% YoY
Employment
297,617
+1.8% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1756
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.71%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$725,000
Days on Market
33
Active market
Months of Supply
2.1
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
100.1%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
30.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
24.4%
Building Permits (2024)
4,149
Single-Family Permits
2,406

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.8% 30 percentile
Population Growth +1.0% 72 percentile
Income Growth +8.8% 60 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 65 percentile
Home Price Change -1.2% 20 percentile
Rent Growth +1.7% 29 percentile
Price/Rent 23x 3 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Snohomish County, WA a good place to move to?

Snohomish County has a Boom Town Index score of 55/100, ranking #447 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.8% and a median household income of $104,083, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Snohomish County affordable?

The median home value in Snohomish County is $592,800 with median rent at $1,794/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1756, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Snohomish County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.8%. Home values changed -1.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Snohomish County?

Yes — 3.71% of Snohomish County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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