Residential delivery area · Washington
ZIP Code 98531: Centralia, WA
ZIP code 98531 uses the postal name Centralia, Washington and lies mostly in Lewis County (79% of its land) with the rest in Thurston County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 27,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $63,406 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Centralia (6%) and Fords Prairie (3%), and 1% in smaller places; 90% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Centralia · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Lewis County (79%); Thurston County (21%)
- Census places
- Centralia (6%); Fords Prairie (3%) census-designated place
- Micro area
- Centralia, WA
- House district
- WA-3 119th Congress
- State
- Washington
- Time zone
- Pacific
- Land area
- 129.2 sq mi · 212 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 98531?
98531 centers on 46.743°, -122.902° and covers 129.2 square miles of land plus 1.5 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 98530, 98544, 98589, 98532, 98579.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98531, 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 98531 compare with the rest of Lewis County?
| Measure | 98531 | In Lewis County | In WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 27,337 | 1st of 24 | 122nd of 605 |
| Median household income | $63k | 7th of 8 | 324th of 363 |
| Median home value | $343k | 9th of 10 | 327th of 392 |
Its median household income is higher than in 36% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 63% 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 98531?
The 2020 Census counted 26,669 people in 98531; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 27,337. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 10.6% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 27,337
- 2020 Census count
- 26,669+10.6% since 2010 (24,121)
- Households
- 11,123
- Median age
- 40.3
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 98531?
Of the 27,337 people the ACS estimates in 98531, 20.1% are under 18 and 20.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (73.7%), then Hispanic or Latino (18.5%).
- Under 1820.1%
- 18 to 6459.5%
- 65 and older20.4%
- White, not Hispanic73.7%
- Hispanic or Latino18.5%
- Other or two or more5.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.9%
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 98531 earn?
Median household income is $63,406 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in Lewis County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($58,741 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $63,406
- Income per person
- $32,793
- Below the poverty line
- 16.6%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 22.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $61,72611,920 returns; wages 70% 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 98531?
FHFA's house price index for 98531, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 155% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 48% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +1.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $343,000
- Median gross rent
- $1,130
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 65.7%
- Housing units
- 11,525
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 98531?
694 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade116
- Health care and social assistance99
- Accommodation and food services78
- Construction77
- Other services (except public administration)74
- Professional, scientific, and technical services44
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 98531?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98530 | Bucoda | 619 | $81k | 4.8 mi |
| 98544 | Galvin | 0 | – | 5.9 mi |
| 98589 | Tenino | 7,010 | $84k | 8.0 mi |
| 98532 | Chehalis | 27,135 | $90k | 10.8 mi |
| 98579 | Rochester | 14,048 | $99k | 11.1 mi |
| 98565 | Napavine | 568 | $74k | 11.4 mi (near) |
| 98576 | Rainier | 4,985 | $105k | 14.0 mi (near) |
| 98570 | Onalaska | 5,319 | $96k | 14.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.