ZIP 98101
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 98101 usually run 2.6% below trend in January and 2.4% above it in July, about $132 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 98101 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2016.
Rent in ZIP 98101 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 98101 rose 7.1% while median household income rose 60.3% ($80,389 to $128,882). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 98101 is 7.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($128,882) is $3,222 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,980); a 2-bedroom is $3,470.
20th cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.
ZIP 98104, 1 mile away, rents for 23% less ($2,041/mo), about $7,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98101. 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 98101 (Seattle, WA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 74.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 98101 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 98101 in Seattle, WA stood at $2,124 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,647, reflecting a 24.6% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $96,893 to $128,882 across the same window, up 33.0% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 18.1% since 2021, moving from about 14,528 residents to roughly 17,153. Renters now make up 86.5% of households, compared with 85% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 74.3% of adults here, versus 66.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98101 in Seattle, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 98101
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 98101 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $2,647/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,094/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,438/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($128,882/yr), ZIP 98101 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 98101 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?
How does ZIP 98101 compare to the rest of Seattle?
At $2,647/mo, rent takes ~25% of ZIP 98101's median household income ($128,882/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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