Lakewood, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98498
Pierce County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,546
- 1,262/sq mi High-density area
- $91,664
- Median income Above-median income area
- $506,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lakewood pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 25%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 13%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,262
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98498 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 98498 (Lakewood, WA) rose +2.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 341.5 in 2023 to 349.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98498 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lakewood, Pierce County, Washington, with 27,546 residents across 21.8 square miles, a density of 1,262 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98498 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $91,664 (1% above the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,374. The poverty rate is 8.1%, with unemployment at 3.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $506,300 (1% below the average Washington ZIP) and median rent is $1,711; 63.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.8, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Pierce County, so 98498 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 98498
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lakewood, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98498.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
71 establishments
- Construction
Construction
49 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
41 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
34 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 98498, Lakewood, 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
27,546
Population
21.8
Area (sq mi)
1,262
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98498?
40.8
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
12.0%
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?
$91,664
Median Household Income
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$50,374
Per Capita Income
8.1%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
29.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98498 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Lakewood, 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)
$91,664 Top 41% higher than 59% 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
12,918housing units
12,918
Total Housing Units
11,857
Occupied Units
1,061
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$506,300
Median Home Value
-1% vs state ZIP avg
$1,711
Median Rent
1974
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
+2.3%
YoY Change (2024)
349
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+249%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98498 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +249% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.0% | 243 |
| 2021 | +17.8% | 287 |
| 2022 | +14.1% | 327 |
| 2023 | +4.5% | 342 |
| 2024 | +2.3% | 349 |
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 331 business establishments in ZIP 98498, employing approximately 4,620 people with a combined annual payroll of $315,681,000.
331
Businesses
4,620
Employees
$315.7M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 71 | 21.4% |
| Construction | 49 | 14.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 41 | 12.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 11.2% |
| Retail trade | 34 | 10.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 7.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 18 | 5.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 3.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 2.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.1% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 0.9% |
| Information | 3 | 0.9% |
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 98498 vs 98467 →
ZIP 98498 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98444
Tacoma (98444)
33,956 residents
- 98499
Lakewood (98499)
29,750 residents
- 98498
Lakewood (98498)
27,546 residents
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
26,944 residents
- 98409
Tacoma (98409)
22,989 residents
- 98467
University Place (98467)
14,728 residents
- 98433
Tacoma (98433)
14,584 residents
- 98465 6,340
Tacoma (98465)
6,340 residents
- 98439 4,839
Lakewood (98439)
4,839 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98498 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98498 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98466
Tacoma (98466)
$101,778 median income
- 98498
Lakewood (98498)
$91,664 median income
- 98467
University Place (98467)
$91,354 median income
- 98409
Tacoma (98409)
$73,348 median income
- 98465
Tacoma (98465)
$73,226 median income
- 98499
Lakewood (98499)
$67,292 median income
- 98444
Tacoma (98444)
$65,342 median income
- 98433
Tacoma (98433)
$60,158 median income
- 98439
Lakewood (98439)
$50,509 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98498 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98467 | University Place, WA | 14,728 | 2.9 mi |
| 98499 | Lakewood, WA | 29,750 | 2.3 mi |
| 98430 | Camp Murray, WA | 13 | 3.2 mi |
| 98433 | Tacoma, WA | 14,584 | 3.8 mi |
| 98466 | Tacoma, WA | 26,944 | 4.6 mi |
| 98438 | Mcchord Afb, WA | 366 | 3.4 mi |
| 98439 | Lakewood, WA | 4,839 | 3.6 mi |
| 98465 | Tacoma, WA | 6,340 | 6.1 mi |
| 98444 | Tacoma, WA | 33,956 | 5.0 mi |
| 98409 | Tacoma, WA | 22,989 | 4.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98498, 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 (27,546 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 98498 in?
ZIP code 98498 (Lakewood) 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 98498?
ZIP code 98498 in Lakewood, WA has a population of 27,546 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98498?
The median household income in ZIP 98498 is $91,664, which is 20% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98498?
The median home value in ZIP 98498 is $506,300, which is 82% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98498?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98498 is White at 54.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98498?
ZIP code 98498 has 331 business establishments employing approximately 4,620 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98498?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98498 are: Health care and social assistance (71), Construction (49), Accommodation and food services (41). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98498?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98498 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 249%. 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 98498?
In ZIP code 98498, 53.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.8% 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 98498?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98498 is 29.6 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 98498?
In ZIP code 98498, approximately 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98498?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98498 is 8.1% 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 98498's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98498 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lakewood, WA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.