Bow, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98232
Skagit County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,920
- 28/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $104,559
- Median income Above-median income area
- $782,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 35.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bow pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 16%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 28
- people per sq mi
- 90%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98232 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 98232 (Bow, WA) fell -2.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 391.8 in 2023 to 383.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98232 covers 138.5 square miles in Bow, Skagit County, Washington (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,920 residents on file, a density of 28 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98232 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $104,559 (15% above the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $52,697. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.9% and unemployment is 2.3%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $782,200 (53% above the average Washington ZIP), while 90.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,640.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 35.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 50.9, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Skagit County, so 98232 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 98232
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bow, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98232.
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
19 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 12
Professional, scientific, and technical services
12 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 10
Other services (except public administration)
10 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
7 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 98232, Bow, 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
3,920
Population
138.5
Area (sq mi)
28
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98232?
50.9
Median Age
51.5%
Male
48.5%
Female
6.7%
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?
$104,559
Median Household Income
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$52,697
Per Capita Income
2.9%
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98232 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Bow, 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)
$104,559 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
1,799housing units
1,799
Total Housing Units
1,576
Occupied Units
223
Vacant Units
2.55
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$782,200
Median Home Value
+53% vs state ZIP avg
$1,640
Median Rent
1981
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
-2.1%
YoY Change (2024)
383
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+283%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98232 have decreased 2.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +283% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.5% | 236 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 264 |
| 2022 | +28.4% | 339 |
| 2023 | +15.7% | 392 |
| 2024 | -2.1% | 383 |
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 117 business establishments in ZIP 98232, employing approximately 863 people with a combined annual payroll of $42,327,000.
117
Businesses
863
Employees
$42.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 31 | 26.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 19 | 16.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 10.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10 | 8.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 6.0% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 5.1% |
| Retail trade | 6 | 5.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 2.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.6% |
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 98232 vs 98233 →
ZIP 98232 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98229
Bellingham (98229)
30,321 residents
- 98233
Burlington (98233)
14,871 residents
- 98257 4,134
La Conner (98257)
4,134 residents
- 98232 3,920
Bow (98232)
3,920 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98232 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98232 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98232
Bow (98232)
$104,559 median income
- 98257
La Conner (98257)
$94,425 median income
- 98229
Bellingham (98229)
$90,945 median income
- 98233
Burlington (98233)
$87,614 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98232 ranks the highest of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98232, 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 (3,920 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Skagit County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98232 in?
ZIP code 98232 (Bow) is located in Skagit County, Washington. Skagit County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/skagit-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98232?
ZIP code 98232 in Bow, WA has a population of 3,920 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98232?
The median household income in ZIP 98232 is $104,559, which is 37% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98232?
The median home value in ZIP 98232 is $782,200, which is 181% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98232?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98232 is White at 87.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98232?
ZIP code 98232 has 117 business establishments employing approximately 863 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98232?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98232 are: Construction (31), Accommodation and food services (19), Professional, scientific, and technical services (12). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98232?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98232 decreased by 2.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 283%. 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 98232?
In ZIP code 98232, 59.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 35.9% 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 98232?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98232 is 26.7 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 98232?
In ZIP code 98232, approximately 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 10.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98232?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98232 is 2.9% 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 98232's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98232 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bow, 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.