ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98119

Part of Seattle, WA
Pop. 26,879·King County·105th most expensive ZIP in Washington
Median rent (all units)
$2,026/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.7%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
+$94
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 98119 · $2,026
More expensive than 63% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,547
1 BR
$1,602
2 BR
$1,866
3 BR
$2,442
4 BR+
$2,872
Research median
$1,866/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 98119 usually run 1.6% below trend in January and 1.6% above it in August, about $65 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98119 is 0.3% below its high of $2,032 in December 2025, at $2,026 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98119 changed +0.7% 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 98119 rose 11.6% while median household income rose 27.7% ($96,768 to $123,551). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98119 is 11.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($123,551) is $3,089 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,690); a 3-bedroom is $3,520.

Rank in Seattle

6th cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98119. 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
$24,312/yr
At $2,026/mo median
Location
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 (+0.7% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98119 (Seattle, WA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 71.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
26,879
Median income
$123,551
Median age
34.1
Renters
61.8%
Age distribution
41.3%
27.4%
12.6%
Under 1811%
18–3441.3%
35–5427.4%
55–647.6%
65+12.6%
Gender
49%
51%
Male49%
Female51%
Race & ethnicity
68.4%
13.9%
White68.4%
Black2.6%
Hispanic9.4%
Asian13.9%
Other5.7%
Education (25+)
19.1%
71.1%
No HS diploma1.5%
HS diploma8.3%
Some college19.1%
Bachelor's+71.1%
Housing tenure
38.2%
61.8%
Owner38.2%
Renter61.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98119 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,654 → $2,026
up 22.5%
Income
$106,245 → $123,551
up 16.3%
Population
26,094 → 26,879
up 3.0%
Renter share
59% → 61.8%
+2.8 pts
Bachelor's+
72.4% → 71.1%
-1.3 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 98119 in Seattle, WA paid around $1,654 a month. That figure now sits near $2,026, up 22.5% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 98119 in Seattle, WA now reports about $123,551, up from $106,245 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 98119 in Seattle, WA adding about 785 residents over the five-year window, up 3.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 59% to 61.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 98119 in Seattle, WA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98119

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98119 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $2,026/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,602/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,866/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($123,551/yr), ZIP 98119 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98119?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,026/mo in ZIP 98119. The local median household income is $123,551/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98119?

Rent in ZIP 98119 has risen 0.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $2,032 in December 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98119?

Asking rents in ZIP 98119 are usually lowest in January, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $65 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98119?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98119 rose 11.6% while median household income rose 27.7%, from $96,768 to $123,551. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98119 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98119 is in the middle among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #105 of 207 at $2,026/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98119 changed +0.7%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 98119 compare to the rest of Seattle?

At $2,026/mo, ZIP 98119 is $201 below the Seattle citywide median of $2,227/mo. It is the 6th cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,026/mo, rent takes ~20% of ZIP 98119's median household income ($123,551/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 98119 20%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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