The Methow’s Housing Needs
The goal of this page is to provide foundational information to better understand the Methow Valley’s current demographics and housing needs.
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
What are the demographics of the Methow Valley?
A summary of the Methow Valley Housing Market:
Housing is increasingly expensive in the Methow Valley
There are not enough units of housing for full-time residents.
The Methow’s Housing Market is driven by outside competition
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
Area Median Income - the middle income level for households in the region — half earn more than this, half earn less.
We often talk about “Percent of AMI” to refer to household income, as it relates to the rest of the community.
Below is the estimated income distribution for the Methow Valley.
A Summary of the Methow's Housing Market...
Housing is (increasingly) expensive in the Methow Valley
Up until 2018, market homeownership remained in reach for those that live and work in the Methow Valley.
Since 2018, house prices have outpaced wages 4:1.
There is an (increasing) shortage of housing for full-time residents.
In 2023, the Methow Valley was (and remains) short approximately 436 units of housing for full-time residents.
Driven only by market forces, this gap will continue to grow, commensurate with the gaps in our current housing Market:
The Methow’s Housing Market is driven by outside competition
To afford the median home price ($663k - see above), one must make at 2.5x-3x Area Median Income
Only ~3% of the full-time residents of the Methow Valley make enough for afford a median-priced home.
This describes a housing market with “Inelastic Demand” - Demand stays high even when prices increase — people still want to buy, no matter how expensive it gets.
To tack this challenge, the valley must:
Carefully consider who new housing is built for — full-time residents, not just second-home buyers or investors.
Use long-term housing conservation tools to keep homes affordable and available to full-time residents.
Examples include deed restrictions, community land trusts, or affordable housing programs.
The goal is to ensure that new housing remains affordable and accessible forever, not just temporarily.
