Adult Family Homes
What it is: A residential home licensed by DSHS that serves 2 to 6 residents (or up to 8 with DSHS approval) and provides personal care in a home-like setting. Most common in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Spokane, and Clark Counties.
Best for: People who want a small household and more individual attention than a larger facility usually gives.
Typical costs: Each home sets its own private-pay rate, and no survey publishes them. For Medicaid residents, DSHS pays about $4,030–$8,495 a month (rates effective July 1, 2026), depending on county and care level. The cost lookup further down this page shows typical private-pay ranges by city and county. An adult family home is often more affordable than a larger assisted living community for comparable care levels.
What's typically included: Room and board, personal care, meals, medication management, and 24-hour supervision.
Guides for families
- What Is an Adult Family Home?: The definition, how it differs from assisted living, and what the same kind of home is called in other states.
- How to Choose an Adult Family Home: A tour checklist: what to ask, what to look for, and how to read a home's DSHS record.
- What an Adult Family Home Costs: Typical private-pay ranges by city and county, and what Medicaid pays.
Adult Family Home in Washington
No national figure: adult family homes are a Washington license type, so there is no national median to compare.
Type a city or county. You'll get the DSHS Medicaid rate range for that county (what the state pays a home per day and per month, by care level), a typical private-pay range where one has been reviewed, and how many licensed homes are there.
Location
Estimate. No survey covers adult family home private-pay rates; each home sets its own. DSHS Medicaid rates work out to about $4,030–$8,495 a month depending on county and care level. Washington medians from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025 data (published March 2026); memory care, adult family home, independent living and CCRC figures are estimates. Includes a 3.5% yearly increase in costs. Actual prices vary by community and level of care.
Senior Living Cost Calculator: Results Summary
Prepared via realpropertyplanning.com on November 13, 2026
Care Type
Adult Family Home
Care Timeline
Care begins now (2026).
Planned for 3 years of care, through 2029.
Cost Assumption
Annual cost growth: 3.5%
Projected Cost
| Washington | National | |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | $6,500 | No national figure |
| Per year | $78,000 | No national figure |
| Total over 3-year plan | $242,286 | No national figure |
Washington medians from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025 data (published March 2026); memory care, adult family home, independent living and CCRC figures are estimates. Actual costs vary by area, provider, and level of care. For general planning only. Courtesy of Real Property Planning — realpropertyplanning.com.
Professional Disclosure
Real Property Planning is an educational and connection hub. It does not provide legal, tax, accounting, financial, brokerage, or appraisal services. Professionals referenced on this site are independently licensed and operate through their own separate businesses. Real estate brokerage services are provided by David Stein, a licensed Washington broker, through eXp Realty. Appraisal services are provided by David Stein through Stein Appraisal. Read the full disclaimer.