Oregon Gets a D- and Washington a C- on the 2026 National Housing Affordability Report Card — Here’s What the Numbers Mean for Builders

Realtor.com’s 2026 housing affordability report card handed out some sobering grades for the Pacific Northwest — Oregon ranked 45th nationally with a D-, and Washington came in at 38th with a C-, as median home prices in both states continue to significantly outpace local incomes. In Washington, the median listing price of $638,185 compares to a median income of $96,120 — meaning a typical Washington household would need to spend more than 6.6 times their annual income to buy a median-priced home. Oregon’s picture is slightly different but no more encouraging — a median listing price of $564,005 against a median income of just $80,356, putting homeownership even further out of reach on a percentage basis. The report also examined each state’s permit-to-population ratio — a key measure of whether states are building enough homes to keep up with growth — and found both Oregon and Washington falling significantly short, underscoring why permitting reform, SDC waivers, and affordable housing funding programs are receiving such intense legislative attention in both states right now.

Source URL:https://seattlered.com/housing/washington-oregon-housing-affordability-report-card/4119020