Seattle, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98188
King County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,111
- 1,185/sq mi High-density area
- $76,438
- Median income Near-median income area
- $456,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 28.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Seattle pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 43%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,185
- people per sq mi
- 42%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98188 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 98188 (Seattle, WA) rose +4.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 319.4 in 2023 to 332.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98188 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Seattle, King County, Washington, with 23,111 residents across 19.5 square miles, a density of 1,185 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98188 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $76,438 (16% below the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,508. The poverty rate is 8.5%, with unemployment at 7.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $456,400 (11% below the average Washington ZIP) and median rent is $1,678; 41.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in King County, so 98188 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 98188
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Seattle, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98188.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
274 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
196 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
132 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
130 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
110 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 98188, 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
23,111
Population
19.5
Area (sq mi)
1,185
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98188?
37.5
Median Age
55.4%
Male
44.6%
Female
40.0%
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?
$76,438
Median Household Income
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$41,508
Per Capita Income
8.5%
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Unemployment Rate
24.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98188 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)
$76,438 38th percentile higher than 38% 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
12,456housing units
12,456
Total Housing Units
11,430
Occupied Units
1,026
Vacant Units
2.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$456,400
Median Home Value
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$1,678
Median Rent
1976
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
+4.2%
YoY Change (2024)
333
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+233%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98188 have increased 4.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +233% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.3% | 243 |
| 2021 | +13.3% | 275 |
| 2022 | +14.6% | 315 |
| 2023 | +1.2% | 319 |
| 2024 | +4.2% | 333 |
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 1,496 business establishments in ZIP 98188, employing approximately 43,850 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,659,574,000.
1,496
Businesses
43,850
Employees
$2.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 274 | 18.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 196 | 13.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 132 | 8.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 130 | 8.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 110 | 7.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 104 | 7.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 100 | 6.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 96 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 87 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 74 | 5.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 65 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 44 | 2.9% |
| Information | 26 | 1.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 24 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 20 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 12 | 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 98188 vs 98158 →
ZIP 98188 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98118
Seattle (98118)
42,731 residents
- 98198
Seattle (98198)
34,584 residents
- 98032
Kent (98032)
33,853 residents
- 98168
Seattle (98168)
33,734 residents
- 98178
Seattle (98178)
24,092 residents
- 98188
Seattle (98188)
23,111 residents
- 98055
Renton (98055)
21,904 residents
- 98166
Seattle (98166)
20,301 residents
- 98057 10,613
Renton (98057)
10,613 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98188 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98188 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98166
Seattle (98166)
$114,969 median income
- 98118
Seattle (98118)
$113,762 median income
- 98178
Seattle (98178)
$99,505 median income
- 98055
Renton (98055)
$97,224 median income
- 98168
Seattle (98168)
$88,083 median income
- 98148
Seattle (98148)
$87,342 median income
- 98198
Seattle (98198)
$86,239 median income
- 98032
Kent (98032)
$82,636 median income
- 98188
Seattle (98188)
$76,438 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98188 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98158 | Seattle, WA | 0 | 1.6 mi |
| 98148 | Seattle, WA | 10,010 | 2.4 mi |
| 98168 | Seattle, WA | 33,734 | 3.1 mi |
| 98032 | Kent, WA | 33,853 | 3.9 mi |
| 98055 | Renton, WA | 21,904 | 3.4 mi |
| 98057 | Renton, WA | 10,613 | 2.9 mi |
| 98178 | Seattle, WA | 24,092 | 3.7 mi |
| 98166 | Seattle, WA | 20,301 | 3.6 mi |
| 98198 | Seattle, WA | 34,584 | 4.1 mi |
| 98118 | Seattle, WA | 42,731 | 6.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98188, 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 (23,111 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 98188 in?
ZIP code 98188 (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 98188?
ZIP code 98188 in Seattle, WA has a population of 23,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98188?
The median household income in ZIP 98188 is $76,438, which is 0% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98188?
The median home value in ZIP 98188 is $456,400, which is 64% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98188?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98188 is White at 29.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 20.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98188?
ZIP code 98188 has 1,496 business establishments employing approximately 43,850 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98188?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98188 are: Retail trade (274), Accommodation and food services (196), Wholesale trade (132). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98188?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98188 increased by 4.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 233%. 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 98188?
In ZIP code 98188, 57.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.1% 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 98188?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98188 is 24.2 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 98188?
In ZIP code 98188, approximately 41.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 58.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98188?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98188 is 8.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 98188's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98188 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.