C-

Prosser, WA

Source:

Affordability Score: 54/100

Population: 12,979 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Prosser, WA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 12,979 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (54/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $81,014, median home value of $338,500, median rent of $983 per month, and 21.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,538 per month (studio $1,122, 1BR $1,268, 3BR $2,071, 4BR $2,385). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $14,060 per year, consuming 17% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing. Unemployment currently reads 8.2% and poverty 12.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$81,014
Median household income
Education F
21.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.2x
Home value $338,500 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,538/mo
2BR fair market rent (23% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$14,060/yr
Center-based infant care (17% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$81,014
▲ 31% vs national
Per Capita Income
$29,262
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Poverty Rate
12.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$338,500
▲ 23% vs national
Median Rent
$983/mo
Owner Occupied
63.7%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,538/mo
▲ 28% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,122
1BR
$1,268
2BR
$1,538
3BR
$2,071
4BR
$2,385

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%
▼ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
50.8%
Median Age
32.9
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$14,060/yr
17% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,800/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,800/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,908/yr

What This Means

Prosser, WA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 12,979. Challenges include education and housing. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Prosser, WA affordable?
Prosser, WA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $81,014. Median home value is $338,500.
What is the cost of living in Prosser?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $983/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,538/mo. Infant childcare $14,060/yr. Median home value $338,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →