PlainZIP

Soap Lake, WA · standard

ZIP Code 98851

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

4,014
10/sq mi
$63,333
Median income
$242,800
Median home value
14.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Soap Lake pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

35th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 44%
home value, US ZIPs
10
people per sq mi
67%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98851 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 98851 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 409.6 square miles in Soap Lake, Grant County, Washington. The area is home to 4,014 residents, producing a population density of 10 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 98851 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98851 sits at $63,333 (30% below the Washington average), while per-capita income is $34,580. The poverty rate stands at 17.7% and the unemployment rate at 9.2%. On housing, the median home value is $242,800 (53% below the state average) with median rent at $1,001 per month, and 66.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98851 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 14.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.9, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 98851 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 98851

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98851.

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 98851, Soap Lake, 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

4,014

Population

409.6

Area (sq mi)

10

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 98851?

35.9

Median Age

54.5%

Male

45.5%

Female

16.4%

Foreign-Born

White 64.0%
African American 0.0%
Asian 2.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.6%
Hispanic or Latino 30.2%

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?

$63,333

Median Household Income

-30% vs state

$34,580

Per Capita Income

17.7%

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 98851 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$63,333 35th percentile higher than 35% 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 49.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.6%

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

What does housing look like?

2,003

Total Housing Units

1,604

Occupied Units

399

Vacant Units

2.73

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 66.5%
Renter 33.5%

$242,800

Median Home Value

-53% vs state

$1,001

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

+24.3%

YoY Change (2024)

310

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+210%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 98851 have increased 24.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +210% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -5.2% 181
2021 +22.1% 221
2022 +11.9% 248
2023 +0.7% 249
2024 +24.3% 310

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 44 business establishments in ZIP 98851, employing approximately 169 people with a combined annual payroll of $7,180,000.

44

Businesses

169

Employees

$7.2M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 10 22.7%
Accommodation and food services 8 18.2%
Transportation and warehousing 6 13.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 11.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 9.1%
Retail trade 3 6.8%

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

More ZIP Codes in Grant County

98837 standard
Moses Lake, WA
Pop: 39,722
98848 standard
Quincy, WA
Pop: 11,518
98823 standard
Ephrata, WA
Pop: 11,055
99349 standard
Mattawa, WA
Pop: 8,483
99357 standard
Royal City, WA
Pop: 4,323
98857 standard
Warden, WA
Pop: 4,082

Related Areas

Grant County Soap Lake, WA Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 98851 in? ▼
ZIP code 98851 (Soap Lake) is located in Grant County, Washington. Grant County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/grant-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98851? ▼
ZIP code 98851 in Soap Lake, WA has a population of 4,014 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98851? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 98851 is $63,333, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98851? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 98851 is $242,800, which is 13% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98851? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 98851 is White at 64.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 30.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98851? ▼
ZIP code 98851 has 44 business establishments employing approximately 169 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98851? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98851 are: Construction (10), Accommodation and food services (8), Transportation and warehousing (6). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98851? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98851 increased by 24.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 210%. 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 98851? ▼
In ZIP code 98851, 49.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.6% 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 98851? ▼
In ZIP code 98851, approximately 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98851? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98851 is 17.7% 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 Soap Lake, 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.