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
$100,851
Median income
$655,000
Median home value
45.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

ZIP code 98388 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 22.9 square miles in Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington. The area is home to 7,508 residents, producing a population density of 328 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 98388 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98388 sits at $100,851 (11% above the Washington average), while per-capita income is $52,413. The poverty rate stands at 14.4% and the unemployment rate at 6.0%. On housing, the median home value is $655,000 (28% above the state average) with median rent at $1,818 per month, and 62.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98388 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 45.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.7, and the average commute is 27 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Pierce County, so you can benchmark 98388 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 98388

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98388.

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 98388, Steilacoom, 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

7,508

Population

22.9

Area (sq mi)

328

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 98388?

40.7

Median Age

49.4%

Male

50.6%

Female

8.6%

Foreign-Born

White 74.9%
African American 5.0%
Asian 5.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.1%
Hispanic or Latino 12.6%

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?

$100,851

Median Household Income

+11% vs state

$52,413

Per Capita Income

14.4%

Poverty Rate

6.0%

Unemployment Rate

26.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 98388 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$100,851 Top 19% higher than 81% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $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 62.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.8%

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

What does housing look like?

2,889

Total Housing Units

2,813

Occupied Units

76

Vacant Units

2.37

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 62.9%
Renter 37.1%

$655,000

Median Home Value

+28% vs state

$1,818

Median Rent

1978

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

+6.6%

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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98388 ranks #7 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 98388 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 98388 ranks #6 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
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

More ZIP Codes in Pierce County

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.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Steilacoom, WA

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