PlainZIP

Sunnyside, WA · standard

ZIP Code 98944

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

22,014
15/sq mi
$64,276
Median income
$260,000
Median home value
11.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Sunnyside pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

37th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 40%
home value, US ZIPs
15
people per sq mi
60%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98944 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 98944 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1497.6 square miles in Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington. The area is home to 22,014 residents, producing a population density of 15 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 98944 against Washington and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 98944 sits at $64,276 (29% below the Washington average), while per-capita income is $24,302. The poverty rate stands at 17.8% and the unemployment rate at 10.2%. On housing, the median home value is $260,000 (49% below the state average) with median rent at $968 per month, and 59.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 98944 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 11.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.7, and the average commute is 24 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 98944 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 98944

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98944.

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 98944, Sunnyside, 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

22,014

Population

1497.6

Area (sq mi)

15

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 98944?

28.7

Median Age

50.9%

Male

49.1%

Female

30.2%

Foreign-Born

White 35.2%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 38.2%
Hispanic or Latino 78.8%

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?

$64,276

Median Household Income

-29% vs state

$24,302

Per Capita Income

17.8%

Poverty Rate

10.2%

Unemployment Rate

23.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 98944 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$64,276 37th percentile higher than 37% 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 40.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 11.0%

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

What does housing look like?

6,651

Total Housing Units

6,433

Occupied Units

218

Vacant Units

3.51

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 59.8%
Renter 40.2%

$260,000

Median Home Value

-49% vs state

$968

Median Rent

1976

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

+11.4%

YoY Change (2024)

297

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+197%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 98944 have increased 11.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +197% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.3% 200
2021 +14.2% 228
2022 +14.2% 261
2023 +2.4% 267
2024 +11.4% 297

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 454 business establishments in ZIP 98944, employing approximately 6,144 people with a combined annual payroll of $329,756,000.

454

Businesses

6,144

Employees

$329.8M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 71 15.6%
Health care and social assistance 64 14.1%
Accommodation and food services 57 12.6%
Other services (except public administration) 46 10.1%
Construction 36 7.9%
Wholesale trade 25 5.5%
Transportation and warehousing 25 5.5%
Finance and insurance 23 5.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 23 5.1%
Manufacturing 21 4.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 3.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 15 3.3%
Information 11 2.4%
Educational services 9 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 4 0.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.7%

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

More ZIP Codes in Yakima County

98902 standard
Yakima, WA
Pop: 46,322
98908 standard
Yakima, WA
Pop: 35,240
98901 standard
Yakima, WA
Pop: 30,169
98942 standard
Selah, WA
Pop: 16,973
98930 standard
Grandview, WA
Pop: 15,252
98903 standard
Yakima, WA
Pop: 14,517

Related Areas

Yakima County Sunnyside, WA Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 98944 in? ▼
ZIP code 98944 (Sunnyside) is located in Yakima County, Washington. Yakima County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/yakima-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98944? ▼
ZIP code 98944 in Sunnyside, WA has a population of 22,014 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98944? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 98944 is $64,276, which is 16% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98944? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 98944 is $260,000, which is 7% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98944? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 98944 is Two or More Ethnicities at 38.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 78.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98944? ▼
ZIP code 98944 has 454 business establishments employing approximately 6,144 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98944? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98944 are: Retail trade (71), Health care and social assistance (64), Accommodation and food services (57). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98944? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98944 increased by 11.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 197%. 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 98944? ▼
In ZIP code 98944, 40.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.0% 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 98944? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98944 is 23.9 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 98944? ▼
In ZIP code 98944, approximately 59.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98944? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98944 is 17.8% 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 Sunnyside, 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.