ZIP 98012
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 98012 usually run 2.1% below trend in January and 2% above it in July, about $107 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 98012 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2016.
Rent in ZIP 98012 changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98012 rose 31.6% while median household income rose 33.9% ($109,161 to $146,144). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 98012 is 33.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($146,144) is $3,654 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,520); a 4-bedroom is $4,140.
2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Bothell.
ZIP 98087, 3 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,164/mo), about $5,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98012. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 98012 (Bothell, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 58.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 98012 in Bothell, WA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98012 in Bothell, WA has increased by $547 per month, settling near $2,609 after starting the period at $2,062. Household income in the area moved from $127,852 to $146,144 across the same window, up 14.3% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 12.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 75,045 to 77,041 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 53.2% to 58.9%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98012 in Bothell, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 98012
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 98012 covers Bothell, WA. The median rent here is $2,609/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,310/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,690/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($146,144/yr), ZIP 98012 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 98012 compare to the rest of Bothell?
At $2,609/mo, rent takes ~21% of ZIP 98012's median household income ($146,144/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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