ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98034

Part of Kirkland, WA

Pop. 52,531·King County·38th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,520/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

+$588

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98034 · $2,520

More expensive than 80% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,370

1 BR

$2,450

2 BR

$2,860

3 BR

$3,740

4 BR+

$4,400

Research median

$2,860/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 98034 usually run 2.1% below trend in January and 2.3% above it in July, about $111 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98034 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98034 changed +4.3% 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 98034 rose 30.6% while median household income rose 33% ($101,674 to $135,219). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98034 is 29.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($135,219) is $3,380 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,860); a 3-bedroom is $3,740.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98011, 3 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,221/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98034. 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

$30,240/yr

At $2,520/mo median

Location

CityKirkland

StateWA

CountyKing County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.3% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98034 (Kirkland, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 60.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

52,531

Median income

$135,219

Median age

37.1

Renters

40.8%

Age distribution

18.2%

27.2%

29.1%

13.9%

Under 1818.2%

18–3427.2%

35–5429.1%

55–6411.6%

65+13.9%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

63.1%

19.7%

White63.1%

Black1.8%

Hispanic8.8%

Asian19.7%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

24.2%

60.5%

No HS diploma3.3%

HS diploma12%

Some college24.2%

Bachelor's+60.5%

Housing tenure

59.2%

40.8%

Owner59.2%

Renter40.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98034 in Kirkland, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,956 → $2,520

up 28.8%

Income

$111,002 → $135,219

up 21.8%

Population

52,841 → 52,531

down 0.6%

Renter share

39.7% → 40.8%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

54.9% → 60.5%

+5.6 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 98034 in Kirkland, WA paid around $1,956 a month. That figure now sits near $2,520, up 28.8% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $111,002 to $135,219 across the same window, up 21.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 54.9% to 60.5% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98034 in Kirkland, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 98034

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98034 covers Kirkland, WA. The median rent here is $2,520/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,450/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,860/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($135,219/yr), ZIP 98034 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98034?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $101,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,520/mo in ZIP 98034. The local median household income is $135,219/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98034?

Rent in ZIP 98034 has risen 4.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98034?

Asking rents in ZIP 98034 are usually lowest in January, about 2.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 2.3% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $111 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98034?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98034 rose 30.6% while median household income rose 33%, from $101,674 to $135,219. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98034 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98034 is one of the pricier among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #38 of 207 at $2,520/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98034 changed +4.3%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.