ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98031

Part of Kent, WA

Pop. 40,094·King County·133rd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,935/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.0%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$3

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98031 · $1,935

More expensive than 58% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,920

1 BR

$1,980

2 BR

$2,310

3 BR

$3,020

4 BR+

$3,550

Research median

$2,310/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98031 is 0.9% below its high of $1,952 in May 2026, at $1,935 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98031 changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($105,965) is $2,649 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,310); a 3-bedroom is $3,020.

Rank in Kent

1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Kent.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98031. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$23,220/yr

At $1,935/mo median

Location

CityKent

StateWA

CountyKing County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.0% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98031 (Kent, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 32.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,094

Median income

$105,965

Median age

38.1

Renters

32.8%

Age distribution

22.7%

27.4%

14.4%

12.9%

Under 1822.7%

18–3422.7%

35–5427.4%

55–6414.4%

65+12.9%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

34.5%

13%

12.5%

29.7%

White34.5%

Black13%

Hispanic12.5%

Asian29.7%

Other10.3%

Education (25+)

22.5%

34.1%

32.1%

No HS diploma11.4%

HS diploma22.5%

Some college34.1%

Bachelor's+32.1%

Housing tenure

67.2%

32.8%

Owner67.2%

Renter32.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 98031 in Kent, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,752 → $1,935

up 10.4%

Income

$89,882 → $105,965

up 17.9%

Population

41,464 → 40,094

down 3.3%

Renter share

34.9% → 32.8%

-2.1 pts

Bachelor's+

29.9% → 32.1%

+2.2 pts

Median age

35.6 → 38.1

+2.5 yrs

Rent in ZIP 98031 in Kent, WA has climbed 10.4% since 2022, going from about $1,752 per month to roughly $1,935 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $89,882 in 2021 to $105,965 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 7.5 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 41,464 to 40,094 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.3% change. About 32.8% of households rent today, against 34.9% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.9% to 32.1%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98031 in Kent, WA market of 2022.

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About renting in ZIP 98031

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98031 covers Kent, WA. The median rent here is $1,935/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,980/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,310/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($105,965/yr), ZIP 98031 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98031?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,935/mo in ZIP 98031. The local median household income is $105,965/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98031?

Rent in ZIP 98031 has risen 1.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $1,952 in May 2026.

How does ZIP 98031 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98031 is in the middle among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #133 of 207 at $1,935/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98031 changed +1.0%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.