1st Advantage MortgageIn Grant County, Washington, the typical household earns $73,267 a year and the typical rent is $1,116. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Grant County
- Household income in Grant County
- How Grant County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Grant County
- Grant County and the counties next door
- Grant County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Grant County
- Local borrowing considerations for Grant County
- Grant County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Grant County
- Checklist for Grant County applicants
- More guides for Grant County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Grant County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Grant County's population at 101,799; only 12 of Washington's 39 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 2,680 square miles, that works out to roughly 38.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (14 incorporated, 11 census-designated); the largest is Moses Lake, with about 26,083 residents, or 26% of the county.
Household income in Grant County
Half of Grant County households take in less than $73,267 a year and half take in more, 25% below the Washington median of $98,141. That places it 23rd among Washington's 39 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Grant County | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | +7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +10.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -10.6 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.8%, 6 points higher than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.442 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Grant County median.
How Grant County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 20%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Grant County workers | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.0% | +17.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.2% | -4.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Grant County
Renters in Grant County pay a median of $1,116 a month, 37% below the Washington figure of $1,760. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $299,500, or 4.1 years of median income. 66% of Grant County households own their home and 34% rent.
| Cost | Grant County | Washington figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,116/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $299,500 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 7% | n/a |
Grant County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Douglas County at 38 miles out to Benton County at 68. Benton County leads the group on income ($89,874), Adams County trails ($66,136), and Grant County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| Douglas County, WA | 38 mi | $80,363 | $1,305/mo | 69% |
| Adams County, WA | 47 mi | $66,136 | $877/mo | 69% |
| Franklin County, WA | 54 mi | $86,714 | $1,198/mo | 71% |
| Lincoln County, WA | 55 mi | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Kittitas County, WA | 57 mi | $73,804 | $1,341/mo | 61% |
| Benton County, WA | 68 mi | $89,874 | $1,306/mo | 68% |
Grant County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 70% of Grant County residents live in one of the 25. Incomes vary by place: $87,902 at the median in Quincy, $38,388 in Mattawa. None of the 25 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moses Lake | city | 26,083 | $74,752 | $1,216 | 11 mi |
| Ephrata | city | 8,560 | $69,551 | $1,106 | 7 mi |
| Quincy | city | 7,998 | $87,902 | $1,161 | 18 mi |
| Cascade Valley | CDP | 4,609 | $60,715 | $1,311 | 8 mi |
| Moses Lake North | CDP | 4,517 | $57,602 | $1,065 | 7 mi |
| Mattawa | city | 3,616 | $38,388 | $1,128 | 39 mi |
| Desert Aire | CDP | 2,788 | $85,960 | $1,739 | 42 mi |
| Warden | city | 2,581 | $57,743 | $865 | 26 mi |
| Royal City | city | 1,683 | $50,478 | $753 | 23 mi |
| Lakeview | CDP | 1,584 | $45,787 | $1,065 | 11 mi |
| Soap Lake | city | 1,508 | $48,125 | $599 | 12 mi |
| Grand Coulee | city | 913 | $64,250 | $591 | 55 mi |
| Electric City | city | 820 | $80,221 | $1,095 | 52 mi |
| George | city | 669 | $55,000 | $940 | 21 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Grant County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Grant County's medians:
- $6,106 a month: gross income for a household at the Grant County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,116 uses 18%
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,509 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Grant County
A few patterns in the Grant County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Grant County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 23% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Grant County households compared
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 13.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Grant County | All of Washington | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Grant County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Licensing and complaints for Grant County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Grant County borrowers answers to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Checklist for Grant County applicants
Quick steps for Grant County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Washington license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Grant County
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Grant County?
$73,267 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $98,141 for Washington. It ranks 23rd of 39 in the state.
How does Grant County rent compare with Washington?
$1,116 locally versus $1,760 for the state, 37% below.
Does this page cover Moses Lake?
Yes, along with the other 24 Census places in Grant County, such as Ephrata, Quincy, Cascade Valley.
Can Grant County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Washington county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Grant County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.