Rent vs buy in Auburn, WA
In Auburn, Washington, the typical rent is $2,032 /mo and the typical home costs $593,931.
Renting comes out ahead by $65k over 7 years
The figures use Auburn's typical rent and home value, plus today's mortgage rate and 20% down. Year 15 is the break-even point.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $65k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 15 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $5,151 /mo year 1, against $2,032 rent
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The stamp relies on Auburn's figures for typical rent and home value. Changing your rent, price or number of years can reverse the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Auburn?
Across 7 years, renting saves $64,952 after you count the money you get back when you sell. For the first 14 years, renting costs less. By year 15, owning catches up.
Renting option. Owning option. Net cost to date, shown by year.
Auburn: average rent compared with mortgage payment
Year 1 monthly costs at Auburn's typical price include rent and the mortgage, along with everything else.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,032 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,238 | $2,854 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $495 | 1% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $94 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $495 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,322 | $384 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $965 | The return on that cash at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $247 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,151 | Subtract the equity part from cash out, then add the two lines above. |
Numbers behind Auburn's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $593,931
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,032 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Washington, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Auburn
- 1% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Auburn
- $94 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the result in Auburn?
Each line shows where Auburn's 7-year verdict changes, while everything else stays the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Our comparison uses Washington's long-run rate of 5.3% a year. Home prices grow below 6.5% each year.
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.29%.
- This type of home has a monthly rent below $2,730 (typical here: $2,032).
- Before year 15, you move.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow at more than 6.5% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 5.29% (today's is 7.24%).
- Monthly rent for that home would exceed $2,730.
- You stay for 15 years or longer.
Auburn compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Auburn | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $593,931 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,032 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 24.4 (#157 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 39% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Washington
- Rent wins by $128k in Seattle, WA.
- Rent wins by $26k in Spokane, WA.
- Rent wins by $41k in Tacoma, WA.
- Rent wins by $39k in Vancouver, WA.
- Rent wins by $294k in Bellevue, WA.
- Rent wins by $83k in Kent, WA.
- Rent wins by $77k in Everett, WA.
- Rent wins by $30k in Spokane Valley, WA.
- Rent wins by $92k in Renton, WA.
- Rent wins by $61k in Federal Way, WA.
- Rent wins by $27k in Yakima, WA.
- Rent wins by $85k in Bellingham, WA.