CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

47.68° N · 122.02° W · GEOID 5373307

Union Hill-Novelty Hill

King County, Washington · part of the Seattle, WA metro

WashingtonUnion Hill-Novelty Hill, WAUnion Hill-Novelty HillUnion Hill-Novelty Hill

The short answer

Union Hill-Novelty Hill is home to 23,047 people. Median household income is $185,369 a year and median rent is $2,556 a month, 16.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $1,218,500, about 6.6x annual median household income.

What sets Union Hill-Novelty Hill apart is how far household money goes. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $150,300 a year, more than in 95% of places its size. Also notable: Unemployment is 5.8%, against 3.4% in its closest peers.

72OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Above average

Union Hill-Novelty Hill scores better than 72% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 37th of 190 in Washington.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%46
Economy 20%65
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%60
Education 10%96
Commute 10%30
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,556
87% above the median place
Median household income
$185,369
131% above the median place
Median home value
$1,218,500
281% above the median place
Unemployment
5.8%
18% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Union Hill-Novelty Hill

  • HousingOwning with a mortgage costs about $1,445 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 94% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
  • Life nearbyOpenStreetMap shows 35.6 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 96% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Union Hill-Novelty Hill

King County loses about 7.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in94,148
Moved out109,084
Net−14,936

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Snohomish County, WA11,02617,266−6,240
Pierce County, WA9,50516,244−6,739
Maricopa County, AZ1,8172,460−643
Kitsap County, WA1,2902,186−896
San Diego County, CA1,5911,592−1

Within Washington, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within WashingtonOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$103K
Leavers$133K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of King County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.5% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.7% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into King County report $103,000 a year in income on average; those leaving, $133,000, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$102,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,556 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $4,001 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $1,218,500.
Getting to work
28 minutes each way on average; 44.7% work from home; 6.8% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Brambleton, VA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
1.7%
16% below the median place
Income of households moving out6
$132,967
89% above the median place
Income of households moving in6
$102,956
46% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure6.5%13% above
Moved from another state11.7%16% below
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure-7.9below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$102,95646% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$132,96789% above
02

What it costs to live here

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 100 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Union Hill-Novelty Hill16.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$102,240
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.5%
19% below the median place
Home price to income
6.6x
73% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$150,000
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Union Hill-Novelty Hill, $2,556 a month, and local prices for everything else (102.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Union Hill-Novelty Hill, but easier on the budget

Places that match Union Hill-Novelty Hill on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Brambleton, VA7312.5% vs 16.5%$57,500Compare
Belmont, VA6614.0% vs 16.5%$57,800Compare
Broadlands, VA6513.4% vs 16.5%$57,900Compare
Wyndham, VA6511.5% vs 16.5%$62,900Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Union Hill-Novelty Hill.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Union Hill-Novelty Hill? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median home value1
$1,218,500
281% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$4,001
114% above the median place
Vacant homes1
2.7%
61% below the median place
All 14 cost and housing measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,55687% above
Rent to income116.5%19% below
Home price to income16.6x73% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure111.110% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,54958% above
Property tax paid (median)1$10,001206% above
Median home value1$1,218,500281% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure0.9%72% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure36.5%29% below
Homeownership183.5%26% above
Renters paying 30%+153.1%5% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$4,001114% above
Vacant homes12.7%61% below
Median year built120021% above
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 44.7%, 259% above the median place.

Works from home1
44.7%
259% above the median place
Income per person1
$99,577
149% above the median place
Median household income1
$185,369
131% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate5.7% −47%
Mean commute28 min +14%
Unemployment5.8% +18%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$185,369131% above
Income per person1$99,577149% above
Unemployment15.8%18% above
Average annual pay5County figure$136,848107% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.5%5% below
Jobs5County figure1,436,484above (median 150,665)
Poverty rate15.7%47% below
Mean commute128 min14% above
Works from home144.7%259% above
Commutes by transit1County figure6.8%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 1.9%, 70% below the median place.

No health insurance1
1.9%
70% below the median place
Homes with broadband1
98.3%
6% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
71.7%
124% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher98.0% +6%
Born abroad32.6% 3.7×
Median age43.9 +13%
Household size2.8 +10%
All 8 people measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population123,0472021st largest
Median age143.913% above
Bachelor's or higher171.7%124% above
High school or higher198.0%6% above
Household size12.810% above
Born abroad132.6%269% above
No health insurance11.9%70% below
Homes with broadband198.3%6% above
05

Life in Union Hill-Novelty Hill

About 33 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 97% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

324 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 9 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents35.6 3.5×
Playgrounds per 10k34.3 3.6×
Grocery stores per 10k1.7 −18%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k6.1 −46%
Libraries per 10k0.4 −51%
Named paths and bike trails33 km 16.6×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi1.3 6.1×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve 48 miles
  • Mount Rainier Wilderness 59 miles
  • Mount Rainier National Park 59 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars27.9 +34%
Shops25.8 −15%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.9 +44%
Doctors' offices and clinics25.0 +24%
Child care centers4.3 +87%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
48.1
56% above the median place
Public schools11
533
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students11
277,999
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure533above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure277,999above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure18.419% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure27.934% above
Shops per 10k7County figure25.815% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure5.944% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure25.024% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure4.387% above
Parks per 10k835.6250% above
Playgrounds per 10k834.3264% above
Grocery stores per 10k81.718% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k86.146% below
Libraries per 10k80.451% below
Named paths and bike trails833.3above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi81.3above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site948.156% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles9350% above
National Register listings10County figure324above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

July average high is 72°F, 17% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Union Hill-Novelty Hill. Larger places are fetched first.

July average high12
72°F
17% below the median place
Annual precipitation12
75.4 in
72% above the median place
Natural hazard risk13
99.7
8% above the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureUnion Hill-Novelty HillAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure72°F17% below
January average low12County figure32°F26% above
Average temperature12County figure48°F13% below
Annual precipitation12County figure75.4 in72% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure99.78% above
Tornado risk13County figure73.210% below
Wildfire risk13County figure79.530% above
Heat wave risk13County figure98.29% above
Median air quality index14County figure430% above
Good air days14County figure67.1%2% below
08

Union Hill-Novelty Hill in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 17% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Union Hill-Novelty Hill does better than 44% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 59%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,556/mo (2024)$3,270/mo$2,680 to $3,980/mo+4.2%
Median household income$185,369 (2024)$234,500$198,000 to $277,500+4.0%
Median home value$1,218,500 (2024)$1,757,000$1,275,000 to $2,420,000+6.3%

The median home would be worth 7.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 6.6 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Union Hill-Novelty Hill

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Belmont, MA$2,527$183,137Compare
Newton, MA$2,370$190,304Compare
Summit Park, UT$2,257$185,900Compare
Granite Bay, CA$2,740$184,606Compare
Granite Bay, CASummit Park, UTNewton, MABelmont, MAUnion Hill-Novelty Hill, WAUnion Hill-Novelty HillBelmontNewtonSummit ParkUnion Hill-Novelty HillBelmontNewtonSummit Park

Places built like Union Hill-Novelty Hill

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Union Hill-Novelty Hill performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA16.5%4.3%/yrn/a
Cedar Mill, OR13.8%2.5%/yrn/aCompare
Sammamish, WA14.3%6.6%/yr-2.0%Compare
Bethany, OR16.1%4.3%/yrn/aCompare
Brambleton, VA12.5%5.5%/yrn/aCompare
North Potomac, MD15.5%1.7%/yrn/aCompare
Franconia, VA20.5%4.0%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Union Hill-Novelty Hill a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 72 out of 100, better than 72% of the places we rate and 37th of 190 in Washington. Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,445 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 94% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. OpenStreetMap shows 35.6 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 96% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 82 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Union Hill-Novelty Hill expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $1,218,500.

What salary do you need to live in Union Hill-Novelty Hill?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $102,240 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Union Hill-Novelty Hill?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Belmont, MA, Newton, MA, Summit Park, UT and Granite Bay, CA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Union Hill-Novelty Hill with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Union Hill-Novelty Hill itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/union-hill-novelty-hill-washington

Citytistics. “Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Washington.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/union-hill-novelty-hill-washington/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.