Rent vs buy in Kennewick, WA
In Kennewick, Washington, the typical rent is $1,654 /mo and the typical home is $427,901.
Renting comes out ahead by $21k over 7 years
With Kennewick's typical rent and home value, this assumes 20% down, plus today's mortgage rate The break-even point is year 10.
Our opinion is clearly labelled, with math shown. These are estimates rather than quotes. Change any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting is ahead by
- $21k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 10 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $3,630 /mo year 1, against $1,654 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Kennewick?
Across 7 years, renting costs $20,829 less once you count the money you get back when you sell. For the first 9 years, renting costs less. By year 10, owning catches up.
Renting side. Owning side. Year-by-year net cost to date.
How Kennewick's average rent compares with its mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. At Kennewick's typical price, these are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,654 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,333 | $2,056 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $257 | 0.72% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $87 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $357 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,033 | $277 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $696 | What the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $178 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,630 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus both items listed above |
The Kennewick verdict, in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $427,901
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,654 /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, Kennewick
- 0.72% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Kennewick
- $87 /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 swing the Kennewick result?
Each line shows where the 7-year result in Kennewick changes, with everything else held the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by less than 5.9% each year (we use 5.3%, Washington's rate over the long run).
- The mortgage rate is above 6.38% and stays there.
- A comparable home rents for under $1,880 a month, and the typical figure here is $1,654.
- Your move happens before year 10.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 5.9% a year.
- You fix a mortgage rate under 6.38%, while today's sits at 7.24%.
- Monthly rent for the same home would exceed $1,880.
- You remain in the home for 10 years or more.
The other 812 cities compared with Kennewick
| Measure | Kennewick | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $427,901 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,654 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 21.6 (#262 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.1% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.72% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 39% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Washington
- Renting. Seattle, WA. Renting wins by $128k.
- Renting. Spokane, WA. Renting wins by $26k.
- Renting. Tacoma, WA. Renting wins by $41k.
- Renting. Vancouver, WA. Renting wins by $39k.
- Renting. Bellevue, WA. Renting wins by $294k.
- Renting. Kent, WA. Renting wins by $83k.
- Renting. Everett, WA. Renting wins by $77k.
- Renting. Spokane Valley, WA. Renting wins by $30k.
- Renting. Renton, WA. Renting wins by $92k.
- Renting. Federal Way, WA. Renting wins by $61k.
- Renting. Yakima, WA. Renting wins by $27k.
- Bellingham, WA. Rent. Renting comes out $85k ahead.