Residential delivery area · Washington
ZIP Code 98229: Bellingham, WA
ZIP code 98229 uses the postal name Bellingham, Washington and lies mostly in Whatcom County (95% of its land) with the rest in Skagit County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 33,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the least populous of Bellingham's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $90,945 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Bellingham (17%), Sudden Valley (9%) and Geneva (3%), and 2% in smaller places; 70% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Bellingham · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Whatcom County (95%); Skagit County (5%)
- Census places
- Bellingham (17%); Sudden Valley (9%) census-designated place; Geneva (3%) census-designated place
- Neighborhood
- Lakeway GeoNames
- Metro area
- Bellingham, WA
- House district
- WA-2 119th Congress
- State
- Washington
- Time zone
- Pacific
- Land area
- 50.2 sq mi · 664 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 98229?
98229 centers on 48.706°, -122.398° and covers 50.2 square miles of land plus 5.0 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 98225, 98226, 98232, 98233, 98284.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98229, 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 98229 compare with the rest of Bellingham?
| Measure | 98229 | In Bellingham | In Whatcom County | In WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 33,298 | 3rd of 3 | 3rd of 18 | 83rd of 605 |
| Median household income | $91k | 1st of 3 | 7th of 14 | 191st of 363 |
| Median home value | $634k | 1st of 3 | 1st of 15 | 108th of 392 |
Its median household income is higher than in 74% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 75% 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 98229?
The 2020 Census counted 33,664 people in 98229; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 33,298. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 11.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 33,298
- 2020 Census count
- 33,664+11.0% since 2010 (30,321)
- Households
- 13,712
- Median age
- 39.1
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 98229?
Of the 33,298 people the ACS estimates in 98229, 18.7% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (76.7%), then Hispanic or Latino (10.2%).
- Under 1818.7%
- 18 to 6461.2%
- 65 and older20.1%
- White, not Hispanic76.7%
- Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Other or two or more8.5%
- Asian, not Hispanic3.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.8%
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 98229 earn?
Median household income is $90,945 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Whatcom County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($88,243 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $90,945
- Income per person
- $51,213
- Below the poverty line
- 9.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 53.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $103,59916,380 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 98229?
FHFA's house price index for 98229, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 124% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 52% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −0.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $633,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,670
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 69.7%
- Housing units
- 14,543
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 98229?
673 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 73 more than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services108
- Construction100
- Real estate and rental and leasing71
- Health care and social assistance66
- Other services (except public administration)61
- Retail trade52
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 98229?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98225 | Bellingham | 50,216 | $64k | 6.1 mi |
| 98226 | Bellingham | 46,782 | $79k | 6.5 mi |
| 98232 | Bow | 4,054 | $105k | 9.8 mi |
| 98233 | Burlington | 17,850 | $88k | 14.4 mi |
| 98284 | Sedro Woolley | 27,835 | $93k | 16.3 mi |
| 98220 | Acme | 541 | $92k | 9.4 mi (near) |
| 98262 | Lummi Island | 957 | $83k | 12.9 mi (near) |
| 98247 | Everson | 9,115 | $89k | 13.8 mi (near) |
| 98248 | Ferndale | 28,498 | $91k | 15.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.