Population 23,499 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 98221
Household size in ZIP 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
ZIP 98221 is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.28, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.6 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.7 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.5 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
ZIP 98221 skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 48.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 14 of the 295 Washington ZIP codes with 5,000+ people are older.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.1% of households in ZIP 98221, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 98221
Renters in ZIP 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.0% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in ZIP 98221 rent their homes (27.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 41.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in ZIP 98221 is close to the national rate: 10.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Washington overall (7.6%). ZIP 98221 has a higher 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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 98221 are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the north.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,086 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,169 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,332 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,990 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$905 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in ZIP 98221 costs $1,990 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $905 a month since 2006–10, up 83%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
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 98221
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.9% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.1% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.8% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in ZIP 98221: 46.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 11.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.6% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.9% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 98221: 96.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. ZIP 98221 has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Washington ZIP codes.
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 98221
| Period | ZIP 98221 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 98221 runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. 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 98221 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 98221 | 2.22 | 51.5 | 6.1% | 27.0% | 10.1% | 1985 | $1,990 | 46.8% | 96.9% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 98257 | 2.17 | 58.3 | 7.5% | 21.4% | 13.2% | 1983 | $1,544 | 42.4% | 95.7% | 6.1% |
| ZIP 98222 | 1.94 | 59.4 | 5.8% | 19.3% | 55.0% | 1981 | $1,428 | 51.4% | 97.8% | 5.4% |
| ZIP 98278 | 1.81 | 22.1 | 6.6% | 81.1% | 24.4% | 1960 | $1,804 | 16.9% | 96.1% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 98232 | 2.63 | 50.9 | 5.1% | 9.2% | 14.7% | 1983 | $1,606 | 37.1% | 92.2% | 4.5% |
| ZIP 98261 | 1.99 | 62.2 | 4.9% | 19.2% | 45.8% | 1984 | $1,160 | 58.6% | 97.6% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 98277 | 2.60 | 37.6 | 9.8% | 40.0% | 10.5% | 1988 | $1,774 | 27.5% | 94.8% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 98233 | 2.65 | 40.4 | 13.2% | 41.0% | 6.5% | 1987 | $1,657 | 20.9% | 90.8% | 5.3% |
| ZIP 98273 | 2.54 | 39.0 | 12.7% | 38.3% | 5.0% | 1981 | $1,402 | 27.0% | 88.4% | 6.2% |
| ZIP 98286 | 1.96 | 59.9 | 6.1% | 17.4% | 56.3% | 1981 | $1,281 | 50.5% | 97.6% | 3.2% |
| ZIP 98238 | 2.33 | 53.1 | 3.8% | 22.6% | 9.0% | 1971 | $1,386 | 30.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 98022, WA · 71292, LA · 39465, MS · 36867, AL · 35802, AL · 33935, FL · 33541, FL · 33034, FL · 31401, GA · 25526, WV
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 98221. 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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