Steilacoom, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98388
Pierce County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,508
- 328/sq mi High-density area
- $100,851
- Median income Above-median income area
- $655,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 45.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Steilacoom pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 19%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 328
- people per sq mi
- 63%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98388 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 98388 (Steilacoom, WA) rose +6.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 320.4 in 2023 to 341.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98388 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington, home to 7,508 residents across 22.9 square miles, a density of 328 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98388 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $100,851 (11% above the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $52,413. The poverty rate is 14.4%, with unemployment at 6.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $655,000 (28% above the average Washington ZIP), while 62.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,818.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.7, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Pierce County, so 98388 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 98388
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Steilacoom, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98388.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
8 establishments
- Construction
Construction
6 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
6 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
5 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
5 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 98388, Steilacoom, 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
7,508
Population
22.9
Area (sq mi)
328
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98388?
40.7
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
8.6%
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?
$100,851
Median Household Income
+11% vs state ZIP avg
$52,413
Per Capita Income
14.4%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
26.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98388 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Steilacoom, 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)
$100,851 Top 29% higher than 71% 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
2,889housing units
2,889
Total Housing Units
2,813
Occupied Units
76
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$655,000
Median Home Value
+28% vs state ZIP avg
$1,818
Median Rent
1978
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
+6.6%
YoY Change (2024)
341
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+241%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98388 have increased 6.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +241% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.9% | 233 |
| 2021 | +13.6% | 265 |
| 2022 | +20.9% | 320 |
| 2023 | -0.0% | 320 |
| 2024 | +6.6% | 341 |
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 51 business establishments in ZIP 98388, employing approximately 215 people with a combined annual payroll of $7,294,000.
51
Businesses
215
Employees
$7.3M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 | 15.7% |
| Construction | 6 | 11.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 11.8% |
| Retail trade | 5 | 9.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 5 | 9.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 7.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 5.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 5.9% |
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 98388 vs 98303 →
ZIP 98388 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98498
Lakewood (98498)
27,546 residents
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
26,944 residents
- 98335
Gig Harbor (98335)
24,925 residents
- 98467
University Place (98467)
14,728 residents
- 98433
Tacoma (98433)
14,584 residents
- 98327 8,267
Dupont (98327)
8,267 residents
- 98388 7,508
Steilacoom (98388)
7,508 residents
- 98333 3,633
Fox Island (98333)
3,633 residents
- 98351 1,115
Longbranch (98351)
1,115 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98388 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98388 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98333
Fox Island (98333)
$172,292 median income
- 98351
Longbranch (98351)
$151,660 median income
- 98335
Gig Harbor (98335)
$128,592 median income
- 98327
Dupont (98327)
$120,781 median income
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
$101,778 median income
- 98388
Steilacoom (98388)
$100,851 median income
- 98498
Lakewood (98498)
$91,664 median income
- 98467
University Place (98467)
$91,354 median income
- 98303
Anderson Island (98303)
$80,282 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98388 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98303 | Anderson Island, WA | 1,037 | 3.4 mi |
| 98333 | Fox Island, WA | 3,633 | 3.8 mi |
| 98327 | Dupont, WA | 8,267 | 6.7 mi |
| 98351 | Longbranch, WA | 1,115 | 5.0 mi |
| 98467 | University Place, WA | 14,728 | 5.5 mi |
| 98335 | Gig Harbor, WA | 24,925 | 7.2 mi |
| 98498 | Lakewood, WA | 27,546 | 5.7 mi |
| 98466 | Tacoma, WA | 26,944 | 6.3 mi |
| 98433 | Tacoma, WA | 14,584 | 7.0 mi |
| 98430 | Camp Murray, WA | 13 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98388, 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 (7,508 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Pierce County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98388 in?
ZIP code 98388 (Steilacoom) is located in Pierce County, Washington. Pierce County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/pierce-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98388?
ZIP code 98388 in Steilacoom, WA has a population of 7,508 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98388?
The median household income in ZIP 98388 is $100,851, which is 32% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98388?
The median home value in ZIP 98388 is $655,000, which is 135% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98388?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98388 is White at 74.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98388?
ZIP code 98388 has 51 business establishments employing approximately 215 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98388?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98388 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (8), Construction (6), Health care and social assistance (6). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98388?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98388 increased by 6.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 241%. 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 98388?
In ZIP code 98388, 62.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.8% 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 98388?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98388 is 26.8 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 98388?
In ZIP code 98388, approximately 62.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98388?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98388 is 14.4% 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 98388's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98388 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Steilacoom, 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.