Washington - DC vs Seattle - WA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 26% more expensive than Washington - DC in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 19), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 29.4%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Washington vs Seattle: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,156 a month in principal and interest in Washington and $3,989 in Seattle, a gap of $832 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,407 in Washington and $2,250 in Seattle, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.3 times rent in Washington and 1.8 times rent in Seattle, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 19.7 years of rent in Washington and 26.7 in Seattle; the lower ratio in Washington means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +0.7% in Washington and -2.9% in Seattle; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in Washington and -0.3% in Seattle.

Homes sell for 99.7% of list price in Washington and 99.3% in Seattle, after 19 and 27 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 34% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Seattle.

The number of homes for sale is up 12% on a year ago in Washington and up 20% on a year ago in Seattle.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.