ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98125

Part of Seattle, WA
Pop. 44,520·King County·136th most expensive ZIP in Washington
Median rent (all units)
$1,914/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.2%
vs US Median
-$18
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 98125 · $1,914
More expensive than 56% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,462
1 BR
$1,510
2 BR
$1,763
3 BR
$2,310
4 BR+
$2,713
Research median
$1,763/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 98125 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.6% above it in August, about $56 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98125 is 0.7% below its high of $1,928 in July 2025, at $1,914 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98125 changed -0.1% 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 98125 rose 22.4% while median household income rose 41.2% ($70,744 to $99,868). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98125 is 19.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($99,868) is $2,497 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,210); a 2-bedroom is $2,580.

Rank in Seattle

1st cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98125. 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
$22,968/yr
At $1,914/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 (-0.1% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98125 (Seattle, WA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 60.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
44,520
Median income
$99,868
Median age
37.3
Renters
54.6%
Age distribution
14.8%
29.8%
28.5%
16.9%
Under 1814.8%
18–3429.8%
35–5428.5%
55–649.9%
65+16.9%
Gender
50.9%
49.1%
Male50.9%
Female49.1%
Race & ethnicity
60.7%
15.2%
White60.7%
Black8.1%
Hispanic10%
Asian15.2%
Other5.9%
Education (25+)
12.9%
21.1%
60.2%
No HS diploma5.7%
HS diploma12.9%
Some college21.1%
Bachelor's+60.2%
Housing tenure
45.4%
54.6%
Owner45.4%
Renter54.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98125 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,541 → $1,914
up 24.2%
Income
$82,439 → $99,868
up 21.1%
Population
43,386 → 44,520
up 2.6%
Renter share
54.2% → 54.6%
+0.4 pts
Bachelor's+
57.6% → 60.2%
+2.6 pts

Rent in ZIP 98125 in Seattle, WA has climbed 24.2% since 2021, going from about $1,541 per month to roughly $1,914 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 98125 in Seattle, WA now reports about $99,868, up from $82,439 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.1 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 43,386 to 44,520 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.6% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 57.6% to 60.2%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 98125 in Seattle, WA reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 98125

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98125 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $1,914/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,510/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,763/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($99,868/yr), ZIP 98125 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98125?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,914/mo in ZIP 98125. The local median household income is $99,868/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98125?

Rent in ZIP 98125 has been roughly flat over the past year as of September 2026, a -0.1% change. It sits 0.7% below its high of $1,928 in July 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98125?

Asking rents in ZIP 98125 are usually lowest in January, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $56 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98125?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98125 rose 22.4% while median household income rose 41.2%, from $70,744 to $99,868. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98125 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98125 is in the middle among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #136 of 207 at $1,914/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98125 changed -0.1%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 98125 compare to the rest of Seattle?

At $1,914/mo, ZIP 98125 is $313 below the Seattle citywide median of $2,227/mo. It is the 1st cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,914/mo, rent takes ~23% of ZIP 98125's median household income ($99,868/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 98125 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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