Fort Lewis, WA vs Lake Stevens, WA

Fort Lewis is moderately more affordable than Lake Stevens, with a 14.3% lower cost of living index. Fort Lewis scores 132 compared to 155 for Lake Stevens, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake Stevens can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

Renters will find that Fort Lewis has a median rent of $2,240/month while Lake Stevens comes in at $2,189/month, a 2% difference.

Median household income in Fort Lewis is $54,902 compared to $118,290 in Lake Stevens (-53.6%). While Lake Stevens is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lewis spend roughly 49% of their income on rent, more than the 22.2% in Lake Stevens. The Lake Stevens ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 51.4°F). Fort Lewis receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 33.4" in Lake Stevens.