Ellensburg, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98926
Kittitas County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 30,239
- 20/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $71,137
- Median income Near-median income area
- $470,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 39.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Ellensburg pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 48th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 20
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98926 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 98926 (Ellensburg, WA) rose +2.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 285.0 in 2023 to 292.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98926 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington, with 30,239 residents across 1497.0 square miles, a density of 20 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98926 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $71,137 (22% below the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,594. The poverty rate is 16.9%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $470,300 (8% below the average Washington ZIP) and median rent is $1,338; 52.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 39.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.2, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Kittitas County, so 98926 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 98926
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ellensburg, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98926.
- Construction
Construction
142 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
120 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
102 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
85 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
84 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 98926, Ellensburg, 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
30,239
Population
1497.0
Area (sq mi)
20
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98926?
30.2
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
5.4%
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?
$71,137
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$38,594
Per Capita Income
16.9%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
19.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98926 ranks nationally
Ellensburg, WA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$71,137 48th percentile higher than 48% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,207housing units
15,207
Total Housing Units
14,161
Occupied Units
1,046
Vacant Units
2.32
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$470,300
Median Home Value
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$1,338
Median Rent
1992
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
+2.6%
YoY Change (2024)
293
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+193%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98926 have increased 2.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +193% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.9% | 206 |
| 2021 | +15.8% | 238 |
| 2022 | +19.2% | 284 |
| 2023 | +0.5% | 285 |
| 2024 | +2.6% | 293 |
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 910 business establishments in ZIP 98926, employing approximately 8,411 people with a combined annual payroll of $413,332,000.
910
Businesses
8,411
Employees
$413.3M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 142 | 15.6% |
| Retail trade | 120 | 13.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 102 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 85 | 9.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 84 | 9.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 66 | 7.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 54 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 47 | 5.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 46 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 45 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 36 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 17 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.3% |
| Information | 10 | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 8 | 0.9% |
| Utilities | 7 | 0.8% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.3% |
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 98926 vs 98934 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98934 | Kittitas, WA | 1,117 | 3.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98926, 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 (30,239 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Kittitas County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98926 in?
ZIP code 98926 (Ellensburg) is located in Kittitas County, Washington. Kittitas County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kittitas-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98926?
ZIP code 98926 in Ellensburg, WA has a population of 30,239 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98926?
The median household income in ZIP 98926 is $71,137, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98926?
The median home value in ZIP 98926 is $470,300, which is 69% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98926?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98926 is White at 81.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98926?
ZIP code 98926 has 910 business establishments employing approximately 8,411 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98926?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98926 are: Construction (142), Retail trade (120), Accommodation and food services (102). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98926?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98926 increased by 2.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 193%. 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 98926?
In ZIP code 98926, 61.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 39.8% 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 98926?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98926 is 19.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98926?
In ZIP code 98926, approximately 52.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98926?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98926 is 16.9% 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 98926's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98926 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ellensburg, 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.