Seattle, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98126
King County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,698
- 2,610/sq mi High-density area
- $116,466
- Median income Above-median income area
- $783,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 61.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Seattle pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 11%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,610
- people per sq mi
- 61%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98126 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 98126 (Seattle, WA) rose +3.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 345.5 in 2023 to 357.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98126 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Seattle, King County, Washington, with 20,698 residents across 7.9 square miles, a density of 2,610 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98126 skews affluent, with a median household income of $116,466 (28% above the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $69,327. The poverty rate is 9.3%, with unemployment at 6.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $783,700 (53% above the average Washington ZIP), while 60.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,802.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 61.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in King County, so 98126 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 98126
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Seattle, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98126.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
74 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
72 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
59 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
44 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
40 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 98126, Seattle, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
20,698
Population
7.9
Area (sq mi)
2,610
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98126?
37.6
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
15.1%
Foreign-Born
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?
$116,466
Median Household Income
+28% vs state ZIP avg
$69,327
Per Capita Income
9.3%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
28.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98126 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Seattle, WA household income vs. every Washington ZIP code
Median household income among 547 reporting Washington ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$116,466 Top 17% higher than 83% of 547 Washington ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Washington 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
11,029housing units
11,029
Total Housing Units
10,248
Occupied Units
781
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$783,700
Median Home Value
+53% vs state ZIP avg
$1,802
Median Rent
1965
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+3.4%
YoY Change (2024)
357
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+257%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98126 have increased 3.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +257% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.7% | 281 |
| 2021 | +7.9% | 304 |
| 2022 | +10.7% | 336 |
| 2023 | +2.7% | 346 |
| 2024 | +3.4% | 357 |
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 448 business establishments in ZIP 98126, employing approximately 4,021 people with a combined annual payroll of $192,844,000.
448
Businesses
4,021
Employees
$192.8M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 74 | 16.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 72 | 16.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 59 | 13.2% |
| Retail trade | 44 | 9.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40 | 8.9% |
| Construction | 33 | 7.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 30 | 6.7% |
| Educational services | 15 | 3.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 15 | 3.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 3.1% |
| Information | 12 | 2.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 2.0% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.9% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 0.9% |
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 98126 vs 98106 →
ZIP 98126 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98146
Seattle (98146)
25,922 residents
- 98106
Seattle (98106)
22,873 residents
- 98108
Seattle (98108)
22,374 residents
- 98116
Seattle (98116)
22,241 residents
- 98119
Seattle (98119)
21,039 residents
- 98126
Seattle (98126)
20,698 residents
- 98136
Seattle (98136)
14,770 residents
- 98121
Seattle (98121)
12,628 residents
- 98134 644
Seattle (98134)
644 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98126 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98126 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98121
Seattle (98121)
$152,019 median income
- 98136
Seattle (98136)
$149,269 median income
- 98116
Seattle (98116)
$126,151 median income
- 98106
Seattle (98106)
$124,212 median income
- 98119
Seattle (98119)
$123,551 median income
- 98126
Seattle (98126)
$116,466 median income
- 98146
Seattle (98146)
$102,520 median income
- 98108
Seattle (98108)
$95,780 median income
- 98134
Seattle (98134)
$68,214 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98126 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98106 | Seattle, WA | 22,873 | 1.0 mi |
| 98136 | Seattle, WA | 14,770 | 1.0 mi |
| 98116 | Seattle, WA | 22,241 | 2.1 mi |
| 98146 | Seattle, WA | 25,922 | 3.4 mi |
| 98134 | Seattle, WA | 644 | 2.7 mi |
| 98108 | Seattle, WA | 22,374 | 2.9 mi |
| 98121 | Seattle, WA | 12,628 | 4.9 mi |
| 98174 | Seattle, WA | 0 | 4.3 mi |
| 98119 | Seattle, WA | 21,039 | 6.4 mi |
| 98154 | Seattle, WA | 0 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98126, both outside WA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,698 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in King County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98126 in?
ZIP code 98126 (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 98126?
ZIP code 98126 in Seattle, WA has a population of 20,698 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98126?
The median household income in ZIP 98126 is $116,466, which is 53% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98126?
The median home value in ZIP 98126 is $783,700, which is 182% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98126?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98126 is White at 61.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98126?
ZIP code 98126 has 448 business establishments employing approximately 4,021 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98126?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98126 are: Health care and social assistance (74), Professional, scientific, and technical services (72), Other services (except public administration) (59). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98126?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98126 increased by 3.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 257%. 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 98126?
In ZIP code 98126, 73.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 61.1% 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 98126?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98126 is 28.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98126?
In ZIP code 98126, approximately 60.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98126?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98126 is 9.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 98126's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98126 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Seattle, WA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.