Residential delivery area · Washington
ZIP Code 98042: Kent, WA
ZIP code 98042 uses the postal name Kent, Washington and lies entirely in King County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 50,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Kent's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $127,552 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Lake Morton-Berrydale (35%), Covington (21%) and Kent (16%), and 2% in smaller places; 26% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Kent · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- King County
- Census places
- Lake Morton-Berrydale (35%) census-designated place; Covington (21%); Kent (16%)
- Neighborhood
- One Hundred One Pines GeoNames
- Metro area
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- House district
- WA-8 119th Congress
- State
- Washington
- Time zone
- Pacific
- Land area
- 27.8 sq mi · 1,807 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 98042?
98042 centers on 47.364°, -122.117° and covers 27.8 square miles of land plus 0.6 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 98030, 98031, 98092, 98058, 98010, 98038.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98042, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 98042 compare with the rest of Kent?
| Measure | 98042 | In Kent | In King County | In WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 50,216 | 1st of 4 | 10th of 89 | 22nd of 605 |
| Median household income | $128k | 1st of 4 | 41st of 78 | 55th of 363 |
| Median home value | $659k | 1st of 4 | 60th of 78 | 98th of 392 |
Its median household income is higher than in 92% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 84% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 98042?
The 2020 Census counted 49,031 people in 98042; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 50,216. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 12.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 50,216
- 2020 Census count
- 49,031+12.3% since 2010 (43,673)
- Households
- 17,144
- Median age
- 39.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 98042?
Of the 50,216 people the ACS estimates in 98042, 23.7% are under 18 and 14.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (60.2%), then Asian (not Hispanic) (14.8%).
- Under 1823.7%
- 18 to 6462.0%
- 65 and older14.3%
- White, not Hispanic60.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic14.8%
- Hispanic or Latino11.0%
- Other or two or more8.2%
- Black, not Hispanic5.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 98042 earn?
Median household income is $127,552 (ACS 2020-2024), the 41st highest of the 78 ranked ZIP codes in King County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($127,982 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $127,552
- Income per person
- $53,041
- Below the poverty line
- 4.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 34.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $104,79824,150 returns; wages 72% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 98042?
FHFA's house price index for 98042, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 121% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 46% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $658,500
- Median gross rent
- $2,118
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 82.3%
- Housing units
- 17,629
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 98042?
881 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 107 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction219
- Health care and social assistance96
- Other services (except public administration)87
- Retail trade79
- Professional, scientific, and technical services70
- Real estate and rental and leasing62
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 98042?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98030 | Kent | 38,523 | $92k | 3.8 mi |
| 98031 | Kent | 40,094 | $106k | 4.6 mi |
| 98092 | Auburn | 50,224 | $122k | 5.1 mi |
| 98058 | Renton | 42,980 | $115k | 5.3 mi |
| 98010 | Black Diamond | 6,857 | $142k | 6.5 mi |
| 98038 | Maple Valley | 37,324 | $152k | 8.4 mi |
| 98002 | Auburn | 37,509 | $79k | 6.0 mi (near) |
| 98032 | Kent | 40,862 | $83k | 6.8 mi (near) |
| 98055 | Renton | 24,660 | $97k | 7.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.