ZIP 98106
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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
December. Asking rents in ZIP 98106 usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 1.1% above it in July, about $62 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 98106 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2017.
Rent in ZIP 98106 changed +3.8% 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 98106 rose 24.8% while median household income rose 79.7% ($69,110 to $124,212). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 98106 is 31% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($124,212) is $3,105 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,390); a 3-bedroom is $3,130.
16th cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.
ZIP 98126, 2 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,045/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98106. 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 98106 (Seattle, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 98106 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98106 in Seattle, WA has climbed by $638 per month, settling near $2,403 after starting the period at $1,765. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $84,506 in 2021 to $124,212 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 10.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 27,489 to 28,690 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.4% change. About 41.3% of households rent today, against 46.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 41.7% to 48%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98106 in Seattle, WA market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 98106
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 98106 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $2,403/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,050/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,390/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($124,212/yr), ZIP 98106 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 98106 compare to the rest of Seattle?
At $2,403/mo, rent takes ~23% of ZIP 98106's median household income ($124,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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