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ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98126

Part of Seattle, WA
Pop. 22,975·King County·102nd most expensive ZIP in Washington
Median rent (all units)
$2,060/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.1%
Month-over-Month
+1.1%
vs US Median
+$95
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 98126 · $2,060
More expensive than 64% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,830
1 BR
$1,900
2 BR
$2,210
3 BR
$2,890
4 BR+
$3,400
Research median
$2,210/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
$24,720/yr
At $2,060/mo median
Location
StateWA
CountyKing County
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98126 (Seattle, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 61.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
22,975
Median income
$116,466
Median age
37.6
Renters
39.4%
Age distribution
21.1%
22.6%
34.1%
12.1%
Under 1821.1%
18–3422.6%
35–5434.1%
55–6410.2%
65+12.1%
Gender
48.2%
51.8%
Male48.2%
Female51.8%
Race & ethnicity
61%
White61%
Black11%
Hispanic9%
Asian10.9%
Other8%
Education (25+)
12.4%
23.1%
61.1%
No HS diploma3.4%
HS diploma12.4%
Some college23.1%
Bachelor's+61.1%
Housing tenure
60.6%
39.4%
Owner60.6%
Renter39.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98126 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,635 → $2,060
up 26.0%
Income
$97,368 → $116,466
up 19.6%
Population
22,030 → 22,975
up 4.3%
Renter share
39.3% → 39.4%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
58.1% → 61.1%
+3.0 pts
Median age
38.5 → 37.6
-0.9 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98126 in Seattle, WA has increased by $425 per month, settling near $2,060 after starting the period at $1,635. Census figures show median household income at $116,466 today, compared with $97,368 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 6.4 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 22,030 to 22,975 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 58.1% to 61.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98126

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 98126 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $2,060/mo as of July 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,210/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($116,466/yr), ZIP 98126 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 98126?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 98126 (Seattle, WA) is $2,060. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 98126 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 98126's median rent of $2,060/mo is $95 (5%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 98126 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98126 falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #102 out of 209 ZIPs at $2,060/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98126?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $82,000/year (~$39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,060/mo in ZIP 98126. The local median household income is $116,466/yr, meaning the typical household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98126?

Rent in ZIP 98126 has increased 2.1% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Is ZIP 98126 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 98126 is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,060/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($116,466/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 98126 falls comfortably within that range.

What percentage of ZIP 98126 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.4% of ZIP 98126 households are renters, while 60.6% are owner-occupied. ZIP 98126 leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does ZIP 98126 compare to the rest of Seattle?

ZIP 98126 is more affordable than Seattle overall. At $2,060/mo, it's $164 below the Seattle citywide median of $2,224/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 98126 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 98126 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
21%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,060/mo, rent takes ~21% of ZIP 98126's median household income ($116,466/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 98126 21%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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