Renters, we feel you. With prices going up in February compared to January but still down from the same time the previous year, it's tough to know what to make of things.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,545
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,868
Month-over-month rent growth: 0.7 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: -0.7 percent

More affordable Lakewood may be seeing increasing demand as priced-out individuals seek cheaper rents.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,141
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,396
Month-over-month rent growth: 0.7 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 1 percent

While the formerly hot suburbs have taken a hit when it comes to the real estate market, the slow growth in rents may mean folks have simply shifted their attention elsewhere.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,956
Median two-bedroom rent: $2,183
Month-over-month rent growth: 0.8 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 0.2 percent

Lynnwood's median rent may seem like a decent bargain, but just look at that year-over-year growth. Light rail and other development in the area might be the reason why.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,317
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,684
Month-over-month rent growth: 0.8 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 6.5 percent

The city of Boeing has always had a steady diet of company employees to fill its surrounding apartments. That strong monthly and annual rent growth shows it's not just engineers and machinists vying for a place here.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,352
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,673
Month-over-month rent growth: 1 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 6.1 percent

As evidenced by its other Eastside compatriots on this list, Redmond's rental market isn't following the same path as its "normalizing" buyers' market.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,940
Median two-bedroom rent: $2,189
Month-over-month rent growth: 1.2 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 1.2 percent

Traditionally, Mercer Island is one of the priciest areas in the Puget Sound region. And with steady growth in the rental market, looks like it plans to stay that way.
Median one-bedroom rent: $2,004
Median two-bedroom rent: $2,637
Month-over-month rent growth: 2.4 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 1.1 percent

When you already have one of the most expensive median rents in the region, any kind of growth is saying something. A whopping 5 percent year-over-year growth is saying much more than that.
Median one-bedroom rent: $2,025
Median two-bedroom rent: $2,204
Month-over-month rent growth: 3.2 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 5 percent

Though Federal Way has some of the more affordable median rents of the region, that wasn't enough to save it from a stumble in both month-over-month and year-over-year comparisons.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,337
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,640
Month-over-month rent growth: -0.3 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: -1.4 percent

Not too far from listmate Federal Way, Auburn tells two stories with its data. Rents declined from January, yes, but were up significantly from February of 2022. Slow and steady may just win the race in this case.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,337
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,591
Month-over-month rent growth: -1.2 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 4.2 percent

The housing market, in general, can be fickle and at the whims of the economy, renters/buyers, and landlords/sellers. In this case, Mountlake Terrace seems to be going through a natural normalization of prices, where a steep, sudden price increase is leveling out to more modest growth.
Median one-bedroom rent: $1,690
Median two-bedroom rent: $1,974
Month-over-month rent growth: -3.9 percent
Year-over-year rent growth: 2.1 percent