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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Elma, WA Housing Affordability Index

Elma, Washington has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 95.9 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 148th most affordable of 347 scored Washington cities, compared with 82.2 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $409,600 home with 20% down, the Washington average 30-year fixed rate of 7.32% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $2,250, or 35% of the city’s $78,086 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Elma is updated every night from live Washington mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Elma MBR-HAI 95.9 Near National Average
Rank in Washington 148 of 347 1 = most affordable
Washington 82.2 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.32% Washington lenders
Median home value $409,600 U.S. Census Bureau

Elma is 13.7 points above the Washington score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Washington index

View Elma Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Elma

$2,250/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.32%
$96,400
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$78,086
Median Household Income
Washington: $98,141
5.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Washington: 5.8x
$1,248/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,765/yr
Median Property Tax
0.68% of median value
15.7%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
42.2%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Elma, Washington. The rate is the Washington average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Elma Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Elma, Washington score: 95.9 (Near National Average), ranked 148 of 347 Washington cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/washington/elma”