Rent vs buy in Pasco, WA
In Pasco, Washington, the typical rent is $1,707 /mo and the typical home is $416,458.
Over 7 years, renting is ahead by $11k.
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are used with Pasco's typical rent and home value. You reach the break-even point in year 9.
This opinion is clearly labeled, and the math is shown. The figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number, and the stamp will change.
- Rent leads by
- $11k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 9 when owning catches up
- Full cost of ownership
- $3,531 /mo year 1, against $1,707 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp takes its rent and home value from Pasco's typical numbers. Swap in your rent, price and years, and the result can flip.
Your numbers aren't the city's?
Enter the rent, price and down payment that apply to you. It updates as each of those numbers changes.
In Pasco, is renting or buying less expensive?
After counting the money returned to you when you sell, renting is cheaper by $10,971 over 7 years. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. In year 9, owning catches up.
Rent. Own. Net cost so far for each year.
Pasco: average rent compared with mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payment don't tell the full story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Pasco's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,707 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,271 | $2,001 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $250 | 0.72% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $82 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $347 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,949 | $269 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $677 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $174 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,531 | Cash paid out, minus the equity share, with the two lines above added |
The Pasco result comes from these figures
- Zillow ZHVI, September 2026 Typical home value
- $416,458
- Zillow ZORI, September 2026 Typical rent
- Each month: $1,707
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, and the engine does not model it.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in home prices: FHFA house price index, Washington, 1995 to 2025
- Each year: 5.3%
- Rent growth: CPI rent of a primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Savings return 60% S&P 500, including dividends; 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025
- Each year: 8.3%
- Property tax from Census ACS 2020-2024, Pasco
- Of the value: 0.72%
- Home insurance from Census ACS 2020-2024, Pasco
- Each month: $82
- Maintenance from Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year: 1% of value
- Buying costs from Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- Applied to the price: 3.5%
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- Applied to the price: 6%
What would flip the result in Pasco?
With everything else unchanged, each line is where Pasco's 7-year verdict flips.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise more slowly than 5.6% a year; the 5.3% we apply is Washington's rate over the long run.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.77%.
- This kind of home rents for less than $1,820 monthly. The typical figure here is $1,707.
- Your move comes before year 9.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices increase by more than 5.6% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.77% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $1,820 a month to rent.
- You remain for 9 years or more.
Pasco compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Pasco | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $416,458 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,707 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.3 (#320 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.72% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 29% | 42% |
More cities in Washington
- Rent. In Seattle, WA, renting is ahead by $128k.
- Rent. In Spokane, WA, renting is ahead by $26k.
- Rent. In Tacoma, WA, renting is ahead by $41k.
- Rent. In Vancouver, WA, renting is ahead by $39k.
- Rent. Renting wins by $294k in Bellevue, WA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $83k in Kent, WA.
- Rent. In Everett, WA, renting wins by $77k.
- For Spokane Valley, WA, renting leads by $30k.
- Rent. Renton, WA. The advantage for renting is $92k.
- Rent. Federal Way, WA. Renting comes out ahead by $61k.
- Rent. Yakima, WA. Renting comes out ahead by $27k.
- Rent. Bellingham, WA. Renting comes out ahead by $85k.