Moses Lake, WA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Washington·Moses Lake

Grant County · Moses Lake · population 26,969

Renter-friendly
Moses Lake, WA
Image: Wikipedia · Moses Lake, Washington
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
66
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Moses Lake stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $366,077
1-year +1.0%
5-yr CAGR +4.9%
vs 5-yr peak -0.5%
Population +1.8%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-02$366k$164k$237k$310k$382k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
94/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,460/mo$1,064$1,349$1,633202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent127129100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 20.9
Lean rent

At a 20.9 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Moses Lake. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
55 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
64 · w22%
Distance from peak
87 · w18%
Population growth
76 · w16%
Rent YoY
33 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
78 · w10%
Long thesis

Moses Lake has held up across the cycle: home values at $366,077 with +4.9% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Moses Lake's rents are softening (-2.3% YoY) while home values stall (+1.0%). When rents fall, the cap-rate math gets ugly for investors and the 'rent vs buy' equation tilts toward renting — neither helps prices.

About Moses Lake

Moses Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, with an estimated population of 26,969. The population grew 1.8% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Moses Lake is $366,077 as of 2026-04, up 1.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.9% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Moses Lake average $1,460 per month, down 2.3% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 66 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Net positive migration: population up 1.8% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
●Held the highs: currently -0.5% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Moses Lake (Wikipedia)

Moses Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 25,146 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 26,969 in 2024. Moses Lake is the most populous city in Grant County. The city anchors the Moses Lake Micropolitan area, which includes all of Grant County and is part of the Moses Lake–Othello combined statistical area.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Grant County right now.

NWS active alerts (WA)Washington Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Grant County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Moses Lake

Sedro-Woolley, WA70 · RisingArlington, WA73 · RisingRichland, WA66 · RisingAirway Heights, WA70 · Rising

Run the numbers for Moses Lake

ToolCan I afford Moses Lake?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Moses Lake rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Moses Lake to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMoses Lake cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
45° / 35°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
77° / 56°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
152
~42% of year
Annual precip
38″ rain
10″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
High
Earthquake
Very high
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Moses Lake listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Moses Lake area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
75%
Very humid climate
Median household income
$90,400
Washington state median
Top industries (state-level)
Tech (Amazon/MS)Aerospace (Boeing)Agriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Moses Lake

Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.

See all Washington cities →    Browse best-of lists →