USDA eligibility map: Washington
About 97.2% of Washington's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 18th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 24 of 39 counties have no ineligible area at all. 135 Census places in Washington lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Seattle city, Vancouver city, Spokane city, Olympia city and Tacoma city.
Check a Washington address
USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Asotin County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Benton County | 93.1% | Richland city, Kennewick city, West Richland city |
| Chelan County | 99.6% | Wenatchee city |
| Clallam County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Clark County | 75.0% | Vancouver city, Camas city, Battle Ground city, Washougal city, Salmon Creek CDP, Five Corners CDP, Orchards CDP, Mount Vista CDP, and 5 more |
| Columbia County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Cowlitz County | 96.9% | Longview city, Kelso city |
| Douglas County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Ferry County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Franklin County | 96.9% | Pasco city, West Pasco CDP |
| Garfield County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Grant County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Grays Harbor County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Island County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Jefferson County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| King County | 71.5% | Seattle city, Bellevue city, Kent city, Auburn city, Renton city, Union Hill-Novelty Hill CDP, Sammamish city, Cottage Lake CDP, and 36 more |
| Kitsap County | 89.1% | Bremerton city, Silverdale CDP |
| Kittitas County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Klickitat County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lewis County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lincoln County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Mason County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Okanogan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Pacific County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Pend Oreille County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Pierce County | 87.5% | Tacoma city, Lakewood city, South Hill CDP, Puyallup city, Frederickson CDP, Spanaway CDP, Parkland CDP, University Place city, and 17 more |
| San Juan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Skagit County | 99.3% | Mount Vernon city |
| Skamania County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Snohomish County | 90.3% | Everett city, Marysville city, Lake Stevens city, Edmonds city, Lynnwood city, Silver Firs CDP, Monroe city, Mukilteo city, and 18 more |
| Spokane County | 85.7% | Spokane city, Spokane Valley city, Mead CDP, Airway Heights city, Country Homes CDP, Town and Country CDP, Millwood city |
| Stevens County | 99.7% | Suncrest CDP |
| Thurston County | 86.9% | Olympia city, Lacey city, Tumwater city, Tanglewilde CDP |
| Wahkiakum County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Walla Walla County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Whatcom County | 98.5% | Bellingham city |
| Whitman County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Yakima County | 98.9% | Yakima city, Terrace Heights CDP, Union Gap city |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in Washington, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and Washington has 139 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is Washington eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 97.2% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (1,906 of about 67,508 square miles are ineligible). 24 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which Washington counties have the least USDA eligible area?
King County (71.5% eligible), Clark County (75.0% eligible), Spokane County (85.7% eligible), Thurston County (86.9% eligible), Pierce County (87.5% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which Washington towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Seattle city, Vancouver city, Spokane city, Olympia city, Tacoma city, Bremerton city, Everett city and Richland city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a Washington address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for Washington last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for Washington carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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