D

Tenino, WA

Source:

Affordability Score: 44/100

Population: 7,320 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Tenino, WA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 7,320 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (44/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $83,855, median home value of $438,700, median rent of $1,419 per month, and 27.4% 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 $1,960 per month (studio $1,538, 1BR $1,682, 3BR $2,613, 4BR $3,288). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $18,580 per year, consuming 22% 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 housing, commute, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 5.5% and poverty 9.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$83,855
Median household income
Education D
27.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.2x
Home value $438,700 vs income
Commute F
32 min
Average commute time
Rent C
$1,960/mo
2BR fair market rent (28% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$18,580/yr
Center-based infant care (22% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$83,855
▲ 35% vs national
Per Capita Income
$42,724
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Poverty Rate
9.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$438,700
▲ 60% vs national
Median Rent
$1,419/mo
Owner Occupied
82.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,960/mo
▲ 63% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,538
1BR
$1,682
2BR
$1,960
3BR
$2,613
4BR
$3,288

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
27.4%
▼ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
49.4%
Median Age
46.8
Avg. Commute
32 min
▲ 6 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$18,580/yr
22% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,944/yr
Preschool (Center)
$12,944/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,964/yr

What This Means

Tenino, WA receives an overall affordability grade of D (44/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 7,320. Challenges include housing and commute and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Tenino ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Tenino, WA affordable?
Tenino, WA receives an overall affordability grade of D (44/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $83,855. Median home value is $438,700.
What is the cost of living in Tenino?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,419/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,960/mo. Infant childcare $18,580/yr. Median home value $438,700.
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 →