Population 50,306 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 98042
Household size in ZIP 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.84 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.94 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.02 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 98042 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 2.87, even as the national average fell. Of the 295 Washington ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 26 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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.3 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.9 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
At 38.8, the median age in ZIP 98042 is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age is little changed from 2006–10, while the national median rose.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in ZIP 98042 (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across the Seattle area. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 98042
Renters in ZIP 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 98042 is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a quarter of owners (26.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in ZIP 98042: just 4.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. ZIP 98042 has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Washington ZIP codes.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in ZIP 98042 is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1990, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the west.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,266 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,456 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,712 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,212 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$946 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in ZIP 98042 costs $2,212 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $946 a month since 2006–10, up 75%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the center.
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 98042
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.3% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.7% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.9% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in ZIP 98042 (35.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Seattle area (46.3%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in ZIP 98042 is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Seattle area.
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 98042
| Period | ZIP 98042 | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in ZIP 98042 than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 98042 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 98042 | 3.02 | 38.8 | 10.1% | 17.4% | 4.8% | 1990 | $2,212 | 35.9% | 92.6% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 98030 | 2.96 | 36.8 | 11.5% | 48.6% | 7.5% | 1987 | $2,023 | 26.4% | 86.4% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 98038 | 3.02 | 38.7 | 9.0% | 14.2% | 3.9% | 1996 | $2,476 | 48.4% | 96.3% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 98031 | 2.96 | 38.6 | 11.6% | 33.6% | 5.1% | 1985 | $2,218 | 31.5% | 87.8% | 6.4% |
| ZIP 98010 | 2.65 | 38.4 | 6.9% | 14.3% | 4.9% | 2004 | $1,998 | 51.3% | 96.9% | 1.1% |
| ZIP 98092 | 3.13 | 36.7 | 9.5% | 24.6% | 5.8% | 1996 | $2,066 | 34.6% | 92.0% | 4.9% |
| ZIP 98058 | 2.81 | 40.1 | 9.2% | 26.7% | 5.8% | 1981 | $2,411 | 42.5% | 92.7% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 98002 | 2.72 | 36.8 | 18.0% | 51.3% | 5.9% | 1982 | $1,680 | 16.8% | 82.7% | 8.6% |
| ZIP 98055 | 2.57 | 35.4 | 10.6% | 46.2% | 4.2% | 1989 | $2,373 | 40.8% | 89.5% | 5.6% |
| ZIP 98032 | 2.84 | 34.0 | 13.1% | 55.9% | 7.4% | 1987 | $2,064 | 27.8% | 81.2% | 9.5% |
| ZIP 98001 | 3.18 | 38.7 | 11.3% | 26.8% | 5.4% | 1988 | $2,225 | 26.9% | 86.5% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 35758, AL · 93720, CA · 93635, CA · 93619, CA · 92691, CA · 54115, WI · 39110, MS · 38016, TN · 37174, TN · 94014, CA
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 98042. 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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