The Yakima metro is home to 256,605 people (up 2.9% over five years), with a median household income of $68,015. Typical rent of $1,362/month works out to 24.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Yakima's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.4% |
| Agriculture & mining | 15.2% |
| Retail trade | 10.9% |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Yakima market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,362/month suggests a household income around $54,000/year. The metro's median household income is $68,015.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.4%), Agriculture & mining (15.2%), Retail trade (10.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).