Residential delivery area · Washington

ZIP Code 98281: Point Roberts, WA

ZIP code 98281 is in Point Roberts, Washington, entirely in Whatcom County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 1,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $78,125 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).

  • ACS2020-24
  • Census2020
  • FHFA2025
  • ZBP2023
  • IRS2022
9national area: Washington, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and 7 more
982sectional center: Seattle, WA (SCF 980)
81delivery area within it
Town
Point Roberts · its only residential ZIP
Census places
Point Roberts census-designated place
Metro area
Bellingham, WA
House district
WA-2 119th Congress
Time zone
Pacific
Land area
4.9 sq mi · 264 people per sq mi

Where is ZIP code 98281?

98281 centers on 48.985°, -123.059° and covers 4.9 square miles of land plus 0.4 of water.

98281 · Point Roberts (this ZIP)9828198281 · Point Roberts (this ZIP)9828198281 · Point Roberts (this ZIP)98281
Shaded by median household income, in national fifths (ACS 2020-2024); 98281 outlined. Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries. <$54.1k$98.1k+no figure

The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98281, 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).

How does 98281 compare with the rest of Whatcom County?

Rank of 98281 among the residential ZIP codes of its town, county and state (1 = the most; income and home value among ZIP codes of 1,000+ people living in households)
Measure98281In Whatcom CountyIn WA
People (ACS 2020-2024)1,28815th of 18400th of 605
Median household income$78k11th of 14257th of 363
Median home value$484k10th of 15204th of 392

Its median household income is higher than in 59% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 66% 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 98281?

The 2020 Census counted 1,191 people in 98281; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 1,288. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 9.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).

People, ACS 2020-2024
1,288±173 (90% margin)
2020 Census count
1,191−9.4% since 2010 (1,314)
Households
743
Median age
58.2

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 98281?

Of the 1,288 people the ACS estimates in 98281, 7.5% are under 18 and 31.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (81.1%).

  • Under 187.5%
  • 18 to 6460.7%
  • 65 and older31.8%
Age of the people of 98281 (ACS 2020-2024, B01001)
  • White, not Hispanic81.1%
  • Asian, not Hispanic7.5%
  • Other or two or more6.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino4.6%
  • Black, not Hispanic0.0%
Race and Hispanic origin in 98281 (ACS 2020-2024, B03002); each person counted once

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 98281 earn?

Median household income is $78,125 (ACS 2020-2024), the 11th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Whatcom County. It rose from $53,386 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.

Median household income
$78,125±$13,206
Income per person
$85,419
Below the poverty line
14.9%
Unemployed (of the labor force)
2.4%
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
44.7%
Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
$109,196730 returns; wages 57% 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 98281?

FHFA's house price index for 98281, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 58% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.5% in 2025.

Median home value (owners' estimate)
$483,900
Median gross rent
$1,095
Homes owned by their occupants
86.3%
Housing units
2,105
0 100 200 300 19912000201020202025 0 100 200 300 19912000201020202025 0 100 200 300 19912000201020202025
Index = 100 in 1991, the first year FHFA reports for 98281; 2025: 370.3. Annual, not seasonally adjusted; FHFA calls its ZIP-level indexes developmental.

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 98281?

59 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 4 fewer than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).

  • Construction10
  • Real estate and rental and leasing8
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services8
  • Retail trade7
  • Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services6
  • Accommodation and food services4

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 98281?

ZIP codes that share a boundary with 98281, then the nearest by center
ZIPTownPeopleHousehold incomeDistance
98230Blaine18,744$87k16.2 mi (near)
98297Waldron47$46k19.6 mi (near)
98240Custer3,593$110k20.1 mi (near)
98248Ferndale28,498$91k21.4 mi (near)
98245Eastsound4,265$96k22.8 mi (near)
98243Deer Harbor327$139k25.7 mi (near)
98262Lummi Island957$83k26.3 mi (near)
98279Olga680$70k26.4 mi (near)

Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.