Seattle, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98198
King County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 34,584
- 1,732/sq mi High-density area
- $86,239
- Median income Above-median income area
- $589,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 30.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Seattle pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 31%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 10%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,732
- people per sq mi
- 55%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98198 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 98198 (Seattle, WA) rose +3.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 322.6 in 2023 to 335.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98198 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Seattle, King County, Washington, with 34,584 residents across 20.0 square miles, a density of 1,732 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98198 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $86,239 (5% below the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,819. The poverty rate is 12.9%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $589,500 (15% above the average Washington ZIP) and median rent is $1,814; 54.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.1, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in King County, so 98198 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 98198
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Seattle, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98198.
- Construction
Construction
99 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
88 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
81 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
66 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
58 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 98198, 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
34,584
Population
20.0
Area (sq mi)
1,732
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98198?
36.1
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
30.1%
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?
$86,239
Median Household Income
-5% vs state ZIP avg
$41,819
Per Capita Income
12.9%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
30.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98198 ranks nationally
Seattle, WA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$86,239 Top 31% higher than 69% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,275housing units
15,275
Total Housing Units
14,588
Occupied Units
687
Vacant Units
2.67
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$589,500
Median Home Value
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$1,814
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
+3.9%
YoY Change (2024)
335
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+235%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98198 have increased 3.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +235% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.9% | 231 |
| 2021 | +15.4% | 267 |
| 2022 | +18.1% | 315 |
| 2023 | +2.4% | 323 |
| 2024 | +3.9% | 335 |
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 653 business establishments in ZIP 98198, employing approximately 6,976 people with a combined annual payroll of $339,552,000.
653
Businesses
6,976
Employees
$339.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 99 | 15.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 88 | 13.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 81 | 12.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 66 | 10.1% |
| Retail trade | 58 | 8.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 50 | 7.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 49 | 7.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 49 | 7.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 38 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 4.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.1% |
| Information | 5 | 0.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.6% |
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 98198 vs 98032 →
ZIP 98198 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98023
Federal Way (98023)
47,510 residents
- 98003
Federal Way (98003)
44,151 residents
- 98031
Kent (98031)
36,581 residents
- 98198
Seattle (98198)
34,584 residents
- 98032
Kent (98032)
33,853 residents
- 98168
Seattle (98168)
33,734 residents
- 98001
Auburn (98001)
31,911 residents
- 98188
Seattle (98188)
23,111 residents
- 98166
Seattle (98166)
20,301 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98198 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98198 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
- 98001
Auburn (98001)
$106,791 median income
- 98031
Kent (98031)
$105,965 median income
- 98023
Federal Way (98023)
$104,893 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 98198 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98032 | Kent, WA | 33,853 | 2.5 mi |
| 98158 | Seattle, WA | 0 | 3.8 mi |
| 98148 | Seattle, WA | 10,010 | 3.5 mi |
| 98188 | Seattle, WA | 23,111 | 4.1 mi |
| 98003 | Federal Way, WA | 44,151 | 6.2 mi |
| 98166 | Seattle, WA | 20,301 | 4.4 mi |
| 98168 | Seattle, WA | 33,734 | 6.5 mi |
| 98031 | Kent, WA | 36,581 | 5.5 mi |
| 98001 | Auburn, WA | 31,911 | 6.2 mi |
| 98023 | Federal Way, WA | 47,510 | 6.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98198, 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 (34,584 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 98198 in?
ZIP code 98198 (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 98198?
ZIP code 98198 in Seattle, WA has a population of 34,584 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98198?
The median household income in ZIP 98198 is $86,239, which is 13% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98198?
The median home value in ZIP 98198 is $589,500, which is 112% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98198?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98198 is White at 41.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 22.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98198?
ZIP code 98198 has 653 business establishments employing approximately 6,976 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98198?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98198 are: Construction (99), Health care and social assistance (88), Other services (except public administration) (81). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98198?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98198 increased by 3.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 235%. 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 98198?
In ZIP code 98198, 57.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.8% 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 98198?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98198 is 30.3 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 98198?
In ZIP code 98198, approximately 54.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 45.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98198?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98198 is 12.9% 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 98198's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98198 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
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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.