PlainZIP

Point Roberts, WA · standard

ZIP Code 98281

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

1,314
104/sq mi
$78,125
Median income
$483,900
Median home value
44.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Point Roberts pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 41%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 14%
home value, US ZIPs
104
people per sq mi
86%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98281 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 98281 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 12.6 square miles in Point Roberts, Whatcom County, Washington. The area is home to 1,314 residents, producing a population density of 104 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 98281 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98281 sits at $78,125 (14% below the Washington average), while per-capita income is $85,419. The poverty rate stands at 14.9% and the unemployment rate at 2.4%. On housing, the median home value is $483,900 (5% below the state average) with median rent at $1,095 per month, and 86.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98281 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 44.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 58.2, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 98281 sits relative to Washington and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 98281

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98281.

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 98281, Point Roberts, 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

1,314

Population

12.6

Area (sq mi)

104

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 98281?

58.2

Median Age

50.6%

Male

49.4%

Female

42.8%

Foreign-Born

White 85.6%
African American 0.0%
Asian 7.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%

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?

$78,125

Median Household Income

-14% vs state

$85,419

Per Capita Income

14.9%

Poverty Rate

2.4%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 98281 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$78,125 Top 41% higher than 59% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 63.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 44.7%

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

What does housing look like?

2,105

Total Housing Units

743

Occupied Units

1,362

Vacant Units

1.73

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.3%
Renter 13.7%

$483,900

Median Home Value

-5% vs state

$1,095

Median Rent

1980

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

+16.5%

YoY Change (2024)

367

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+267%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 98281 have increased 16.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +267% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -1.0% 246
2021 +15.3% 284
2022 +23.2% 349
2023 -9.7% 316
2024 +16.5% 367

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 59 business establishments in ZIP 98281, employing approximately 149 people with a combined annual payroll of $6,387,000.

59

Businesses

149

Employees

$6.4M

Annual Payroll

9

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 10 16.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 13.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 8 13.6%
Retail trade 7 11.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 10.2%
Accommodation and food services 4 6.8%
Transportation and warehousing 3 5.1%
Information 3 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 5.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Whatcom County

98225 standard
Bellingham, WA
Pop: 46,172
98226 standard
Bellingham, WA
Pop: 41,235
98229 standard
Bellingham, WA
Pop: 30,321
98248 standard
Ferndale, WA
Pop: 22,361
98264 standard
Lynden, WA
Pop: 18,893
98230 standard
Blaine, WA
Pop: 15,710

Related Areas

Whatcom County Point Roberts, WA Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 98281 in? ▼
ZIP code 98281 (Point Roberts) is located in Whatcom County, Washington. Whatcom County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/whatcom-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98281? ▼
ZIP code 98281 in Point Roberts, WA has a population of 1,314 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98281? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 98281 is $78,125, which is 2% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98281? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 98281 is $483,900, which is 74% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98281? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 98281 is White at 85.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98281? ▼
ZIP code 98281 has 59 business establishments employing approximately 149 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98281? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98281 are: Construction (10), Real estate and rental and leasing (8), Professional, scientific, and technical services (8). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98281? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98281 increased by 16.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 267%. 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 98281? ▼
In ZIP code 98281, 63.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 44.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98281? ▼
In ZIP code 98281, approximately 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98281? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98281 is 14.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Point Roberts, WA

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

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.