Seattle, WA · standard

ZIP Code 98115

King County, Washington — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

46,206
2,709/sq mi
$156,142
Median income
$1,094,600
Median home value
80.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Seattle pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 3%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 2%
home value, US ZIPs
2,709
people per sq mi
60%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98115 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 98115 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 17.1 square miles in Seattle, King County, Washington. The area is home to 46,206 residents, producing a population density of 2,709 people per square mile, and falls within the Los Angeles time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 98115 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98115 sits at $156,142 (72% above the Washington average), while per-capita income is $91,860. The poverty rate stands at 5.9% and the unemployment rate at 3.8%. On housing, the median home value is $1,094,600 (114% above the state average) with median rent at $2,143 per month, and 59.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98115 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 80.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing King County, so you can benchmark 98115 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 98115

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98115.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 98115, Seattle, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

46,206

Population

17.1

Area (sq mi)

2,709

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 98115?

37.5

Median Age

49.3%

Male

50.7%

Female

14.5%

Foreign-Born

White 71.3%
African American 1.9%
Asian 14.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$156,142

Median Household Income

+72% vs state

$91,860

Per Capita Income

5.9%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

24.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 98115 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$156,142 Top 3% higher than 97% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). This entry sits in this band. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 86.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 80.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

25,486

Total Housing Units

23,843

Occupied Units

1,643

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 59.7%
Renter 40.3%

$1,094,600

Median Home Value

+114% vs state

$2,143

Median Rent

1962

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+4.4%

YoY Change (2024)

349

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+249%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 98115 have increased 4.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +249% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.9% 275
2021 +8.0% 297
2022 +12.1% 333
2023 +0.3% 334
2024 +4.4% 349

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,276 business establishments in ZIP 98115, employing approximately 11,038 people with a combined annual payroll of $625,194,000.

1,276

Businesses

11,038

Employees

$625.2M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 242 19.0%
Health care and social assistance 215 16.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 148 11.6%
Accommodation and food services 134 10.5%
Other services (except public administration) 133 10.4%
Retail trade 79 6.2%
Construction 75 5.9%
Finance and insurance 54 4.2%
Educational services 41 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 41 3.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 35 2.7%
Wholesale trade 27 2.1%
Information 24 1.9%
Manufacturing 14 1.1%
Transportation and warehousing 10 0.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 98115 vs 98105 →

ZIP 98115 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98115 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 98115 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 98115 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
98105 Seattle, WA 43,924 1.7 mi
98125 Seattle, WA 37,081 2.3 mi
98112 Seattle, WA 21,077 3.5 mi
98195 Seattle, WA 0 2.8 mi
98103 Seattle, WA 45,911 2.9 mi
98122 Seattle, WA 31,454 5.1 mi
98102 Seattle, WA 20,756 3.8 mi
98155 Seattle, WA 32,778 5.0 mi
98039 Medina, WA 2,971 4.1 mi
98034 Kirkland, WA 40,407 3.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in King County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 98115 in?
ZIP code 98115 (Seattle) is located in King County, Washington. King County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/king-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98115?
ZIP code 98115 in Seattle, WA has a population of 46,206 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98115?
The median household income in ZIP 98115 is $156,142, which is 105% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98115?
The median home value in ZIP 98115 is $1,094,600, which is 294% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98115?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98115 is White at 71.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98115?
ZIP code 98115 has 1,276 business establishments employing approximately 11,038 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98115?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98115 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (242), Health care and social assistance (215), Real estate and rental and leasing (148). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98115?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98115 increased by 4.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 249%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 98115?
In ZIP code 98115, 86.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 80.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 98115?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98115 is 24.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98115?
In ZIP code 98115, approximately 59.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98115?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98115 is 5.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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Official Data Resources for Seattle, WA

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