Population 37,076 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 98038
Household size in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.91 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.97 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.02 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 98038 are large by national standards, averaging 3.02 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.82, even as the national average fell. Of the 295 Washington ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 25 have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.9 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
At 38.7, the median age in ZIP 98038 is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in ZIP 98038 (9.0%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Seattle area as a whole looks much the same.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 98038
Renters in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 98038 is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 22.7% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Of the 295 Washington ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 28 have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in ZIP 98038: just 3.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 295 Washington ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1996 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in ZIP 98038 is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1996, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1992 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,317 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,544 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,780 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,476 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,159 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in ZIP 98038 pays $2,476 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,159 a month from 2006–10, an 88% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 98038
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.4% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.0% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.4% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
ZIP 98038 is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (48.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.5% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.4% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.4% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 98038: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 98038
| Period | ZIP 98038 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in ZIP 98038 than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 98038 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 98038 | 3.02 | 38.7 | 9.0% | 14.2% | 3.9% | 1996 | $2,476 | 48.4% | 96.3% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 98010 | 2.65 | 38.4 | 6.9% | 14.3% | 4.9% | 2004 | $1,998 | 51.3% | 96.9% | 1.1% |
| ZIP 98042 | 3.02 | 38.8 | 10.1% | 17.4% | 4.8% | 1990 | $2,212 | 35.9% | 92.6% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 98051 | 2.99 | 41.8 | 3.8% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 1994 | $1,621 | 40.8% | 91.8% | 2.6% |
| ZIP 98058 | 2.81 | 40.1 | 9.2% | 26.7% | 5.8% | 1981 | $2,411 | 42.5% | 92.7% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 98030 | 2.96 | 36.8 | 11.5% | 48.6% | 7.5% | 1987 | $2,023 | 26.4% | 86.4% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 98031 | 2.96 | 38.6 | 11.6% | 33.6% | 5.1% | 1985 | $2,218 | 31.5% | 87.8% | 6.4% |
| ZIP 98092 | 3.13 | 36.7 | 9.5% | 24.6% | 5.8% | 1996 | $2,066 | 34.6% | 92.0% | 4.9% |
| ZIP 98055 | 2.57 | 35.4 | 10.6% | 46.2% | 4.2% | 1989 | $2,373 | 40.8% | 89.5% | 5.6% |
| ZIP 98059 | 2.90 | 38.5 | 6.9% | 23.5% | 4.9% | 1991 | $2,627 | 52.2% | 92.0% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 98002 | 2.72 | 36.8 | 18.0% | 51.3% | 5.9% | 1982 | $1,680 | 16.8% | 82.7% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 50317, IA · 80220, CO · 59715, MT · 00777, PR · 46222, IN · 33309, FL · 30215, GA · 26508, WV · 23060, VA · 21144, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 98038. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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