Clinton, WA · standard

ZIP Code 98236

Island County, Washington — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

5,635
95/sq mi
$94,362
Median income
$668,400
Median home value
42.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Clinton pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 23%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 7%
home value, US ZIPs
95
people per sq mi
85%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98236 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 98236 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 59.3 square miles in Clinton, Island County, Washington. The area is home to 5,635 residents, producing a population density of 95 people per square mile, and falls within the Los Angeles time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 98236 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98236 sits at $94,362 (4% above the Washington average), while per-capita income is $51,422. The poverty rate stands at 8.3% and the unemployment rate at 4.0%. On housing, the median home value is $668,400 (31% above the state average) with median rent at $1,529 per month, and 84.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98236 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 42.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.5, and the average commute is 37 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Island County, so you can benchmark 98236 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 98236

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98236.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 98236, Clinton, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

5,635

Population

59.3

Area (sq mi)

95

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 98236?

51.5

Median Age

48.0%

Male

52.0%

Female

5.6%

Foreign-Born

White 88.6%
African American 1.2%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%

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?

$94,362

Median Household Income

+4% vs state

$51,422

Per Capita Income

8.3%

Poverty Rate

4.0%

Unemployment Rate

37.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 98236 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$94,362 Top 23% higher than 77% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 60.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 42.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,622

Total Housing Units

2,910

Occupied Units

712

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 84.6%
Renter 15.4%

$668,400

Median Home Value

+31% vs state

$1,529

Median Rent

1990

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-6.0%

YoY Change (2024)

302

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+202%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 98236 have decreased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +202% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.6% 223
2021 +11.2% 248
2022 +24.5% 308
2023 +4.2% 321
2024 -6.0% 302

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 184 business establishments in ZIP 98236, employing approximately 1,049 people with a combined annual payroll of $46,276,000.

184

Businesses

1,049

Employees

$46.3M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 47 25.5%
Retail trade 24 13.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 19 10.3%
Accommodation and food services 14 7.6%
Other services (except public administration) 13 7.1%
Wholesale trade 10 5.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 10 5.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 10 5.4%
Educational services 9 4.9%
Manufacturing 8 4.3%
Transportation and warehousing 5 2.7%
Health care and social assistance 4 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 2.2%
Information 3 1.6%
Finance and insurance 3 1.6%

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 98236 vs 98260 →

ZIP 98236 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98236 ranks #8 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 98236 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 98236 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
98260 Langley, WA 5,278 5.4 mi
98275 Mukilteo, WA 20,256 5.8 mi
98249 Freeland, WA 4,561 7.5 mi
98026 Edmonds, WA 35,921 9.1 mi
98204 Everett, WA 39,380 7.7 mi
98087 Lynnwood, WA 29,976 9.2 mi
98037 Lynnwood, WA 26,889 9.9 mi
98346 Kingston, WA 9,297 11.3 mi
98036 Lynnwood, WA 36,000 11.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Island County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 98236 in?
ZIP code 98236 (Clinton) is located in Island County, Washington. Island County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/island-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98236?
ZIP code 98236 in Clinton, WA has a population of 5,635 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98236?
The median household income in ZIP 98236 is $94,362, which is 24% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98236?
The median home value in ZIP 98236 is $668,400, which is 140% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98236?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98236 is White at 88.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98236?
ZIP code 98236 has 184 business establishments employing approximately 1,049 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98236?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98236 are: Construction (47), Retail trade (24), Professional, scientific, and technical services (19). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98236?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98236 decreased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 202%. 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 98236?
In ZIP code 98236, 60.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.3% 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 98236?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98236 is 37.1 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 98236?
In ZIP code 98236, approximately 84.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98236?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98236 is 8.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Clinton, WA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.