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ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98042

Pop. 50,216·King County·47th most expensive ZIP in Washington
Median rent (all units)
$2,410/mo
Year-over-Year
+6.1%
Month-over-Month
+2.8%
vs US Median
+$445
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 98042 · $2,410
More expensive than 77% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,140
1 BR
$2,210
2 BR
$2,580
3 BR
$3,380
4 BR+
$3,970
Research median
$2,580/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: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$28,920/yr
At $2,410/mo median
Location
StateWA
CountyKing County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 6.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+6.1% YoY, +2.8% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98042 (Covington, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 34.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
50,216
Median income
$127,552
Median age
39
Renters
17.7%
Age distribution
23.7%
21.1%
27.8%
13.2%
14.3%
Under 1823.7%
18–3421.1%
35–5427.8%
55–6413.2%
65+14.3%
Gender
51.4%
48.6%
Male51.4%
Female48.6%
Race & ethnicity
62.4%
15%
White62.4%
Black6.3%
Hispanic11%
Asian15%
Other5.3%
Education (25+)
22.2%
35.6%
34.6%
No HS diploma7.5%
HS diploma22.2%
Some college35.6%
Bachelor's+34.6%
Housing tenure
82.3%
17.7%
Owner82.3%
Renter17.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98042 in Covington, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,749 → $2,410
up 37.8%
Income
$113,579 → $127,552
up 12.3%
Population
48,639 → 50,216
up 3.2%
Renter share
16.5% → 17.7%
+1.2 pts
Bachelor's+
32.6% → 34.6%
+2.0 pts
Median age
40.8 → 39
-1.8 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98042 in Covington, WA has climbed by $661 per month, settling near $2,410 after starting the period at $1,749. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $113,579 in 2021 to $127,552 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.5 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 48,639 to 50,216 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 32.6% to 34.6%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98042 in Covington, WA market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 98042

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 98042 covers Covington, WA. The median rent here is $2,410/mo as of July 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,210/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,580/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($127,552/yr), ZIP 98042 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 98042?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 98042 (Covington, WA) is $2,410. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 98042 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 98042's median rent of $2,410/mo is $445 (23%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 98042 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98042 is one of the pricier ZIP codes in Washington, ranking #47 out of 209 ZIPs tracked at $2,410/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98042?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $96,000/year (~$46/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,410/mo in ZIP 98042. The local median household income is $127,552/yr, meaning the typical household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98042?

Rent in ZIP 98042 has increased 6.1% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Is ZIP 98042 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 98042 is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,410/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($127,552/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 98042 falls comfortably within that range.

What percentage of ZIP 98042 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 17.7% of ZIP 98042 households are renters, while 82.3% are owner-occupied. ZIP 98042 leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does ZIP 98042 compare to the rest of Covington?

ZIP 98042 is pricier than Covington as a whole. At $2,410/mo, it's $43 above the Covington citywide median of $2,367/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 98042 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 98042 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,410/mo, rent takes ~23% of ZIP 98042's median household income ($127,552/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 98042 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Public schools near ZIP 98042 (Covington, WA)

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