Residential delivery area · Washington
ZIP Code 98226: Bellingham, WA
ZIP code 98226 uses the postal name Bellingham, Washington and lies entirely in Whatcom County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 47,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Bellingham's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $79,375 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 9% of its land lies in Bellingham, and 2% in smaller places; 88% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Bellingham · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Whatcom County
- Census places
- Bellingham
- Neighborhoods
- Alabama Hill, Forest Ridge GeoNames
- Metro area
- Bellingham, WA
- House district
- WA-2 119th Congress
- State
- Washington
- Time zone
- Pacific
- Land area
- 105.8 sq mi · 442 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 98226?
98226 centers on 48.797°, -122.432° and covers 105.8 square miles of land plus 8.3 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 98225, 98229, 98247, 98248, 98264, 98220, 98284, 98244.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98226, 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 98226 compare with the rest of Bellingham?
| Measure | 98226 | In Bellingham | In Whatcom County | In WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 46,782 | 2nd of 3 | 2nd of 18 | 28th of 605 |
| Median household income | $79k | 2nd of 3 | 10th of 14 | 248th of 363 |
| Median home value | $608k | 3rd of 3 | 5th of 15 | 125th of 392 |
Its median household income is higher than in 61% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 71% 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 98226?
The 2020 Census counted 47,011 people in 98226; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 46,782. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 14.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 46,782
- 2020 Census count
- 47,011+14.0% since 2010 (41,235)
- Households
- 20,048
- Median age
- 41.1
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 98226?
Of the 46,782 people the ACS estimates in 98226, 16.6% are under 18 and 20.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (71.6%), then Other or two or more (11.6%).
- Under 1816.6%
- 18 to 6462.5%
- 65 and older20.8%
- White, not Hispanic71.6%
- Other or two or more11.6%
- Hispanic or Latino9.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic6.3%
- Black, not Hispanic1.4%
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 98226 earn?
Median household income is $79,375 (ACS 2020-2024), the 10th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Whatcom County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($78,816 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $79,375
- Income per person
- $45,504
- Below the poverty line
- 12.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 39.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $94,03822,930 returns; wages 61% 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 98226?
FHFA's house price index for 98226, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 125% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 53% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $607,600
- Median gross rent
- $1,620
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 62.4%
- Housing units
- 20,980
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 98226?
1,663 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 73 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade228
- Construction222
- Health care and social assistance160
- Professional, scientific, and technical services148
- Other services (except public administration)148
- Accommodation and food services141
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 98226?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98225 | Bellingham | 50,216 | $64k | 4.3 mi |
| 98229 | Bellingham | 33,298 | $91k | 6.5 mi |
| 98247 | Everson | 9,115 | $89k | 8.8 mi |
| 98248 | Ferndale | 28,498 | $91k | 9.9 mi |
| 98264 | Lynden | 23,123 | $104k | 10.6 mi |
| 98220 | Acme | 541 | $92k | 13.3 mi |
| 98284 | Sedro Woolley | 27,835 | $93k | 22.0 mi |
| 98244 | Deming | 2,994 | $67k | 23.9 mi |
| 98276 | Nooksack | 1,794 | $97k | 10.4 mi (near) |
| 98262 | Lummi Island | 957 | $83k | 13.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.