ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98002

Part of Auburn, WA

Pop. 37,509·King County·143rd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,865/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

-$67

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98002 · $1,865

More expensive than 53% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,800

1 BR

$1,850

2 BR

$2,160

3 BR

$2,850

4 BR+

$3,320

Research median

$2,160/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

June. Asking rents in ZIP 98002 usually run 0.4% below trend in June and 0.5% above it in September, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98002 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2018.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98002 changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98002 rose 35% while median household income rose 37.3% ($57,317 to $78,684). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98002 is 41% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($78,684) is $1,967 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,850); a 2-bedroom is $2,160.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98002. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,380/yr

At $1,865/mo median

Location

CityAuburn

StateWA

CountyKing County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.4% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98002 (Auburn, WA) is roughly split between renters and owners, 15.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,509

Median income

$78,684

Median age

35.9

Renters

51.1%

Age distribution

24.5%

24.2%

24.6%

14.9%

Under 1824.5%

18–3424.2%

35–5424.6%

55–6411.8%

65+14.9%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

49.3%

26.5%

White49.3%

Black9.4%

Hispanic26.5%

Asian6.7%

Other8.1%

Education (25+)

16.2%

31%

37%

15.8%

No HS diploma16.2%

HS diploma31%

Some college37%

Bachelor's+15.8%

Housing tenure

48.9%

51.1%

Owner48.9%

Renter51.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98002 in Auburn, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,406 → $1,865

up 32.6%

Income

$59,742 → $78,684

up 31.7%

Population

35,915 → 37,509

up 4.4%

Renter share

54.5% → 51.1%

-3.4 pts

Bachelor's+

16.5% → 15.8%

-0.7 pts

Median age

35.4 → 35.9

+0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98002 in Auburn, WA has increased by $459 per month, settling near $1,865 after starting the period at $1,406. Household income in the area moved from $59,742 to $78,684 across the same window, up 31.7% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 35,915 to 37,509 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.4% change. About 51.1% of households rent today, against 54.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98002 in Auburn, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 98002

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98002 covers Auburn, WA. The median rent here is $1,865/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,850/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,160/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($78,684/yr), ZIP 98002 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98002?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,865/mo in ZIP 98002. The local median household income is $78,684/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98002?

Rent in ZIP 98002 has risen 3.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2018.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98002?

Asking rents in ZIP 98002 are usually lowest in June, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $17 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98002?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98002 rose 35% while median household income rose 37.3%, from $57,317 to $78,684. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98002 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98002 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #143 of 207 at $1,865/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98002 changed +3.4%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.