ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98136

Part of Seattle, WA

Pop. 17,252·King County·44th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,423/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$491

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98136 · $2,423

More expensive than 78% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,160

1 BR

$2,230

2 BR

$2,600

3 BR

$3,400

4 BR+

$4,000

Research median

$2,600/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 98136 usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 1.4% above it in July, about $61 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98136 is 1.3% below its high of $2,456 in March 2026, at $2,423 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98136 changed +2.8% 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 98136 rose 25.6% while median household income rose 31.2% ($113,750 to $149,269). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98136 is 27.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($149,269) is $3,732 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,400); a 4-bedroom is $4,000.

Rank in Seattle

17th cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98126, 1 mile away, rents for 16% less ($2,045/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98136. 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

$29,076/yr

At $2,423/mo median

Location

CitySeattle

StateWA

CountyKing County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98136 (Seattle, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 67.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

17,252

Median income

$149,269

Median age

40.7

Renters

36%

Age distribution

16.8%

18.9%

34.6%

12.9%

16.9%

Under 1816.8%

18–3418.9%

35–5434.6%

55–6412.9%

65+16.9%

Gender

51.3%

48.7%

Male51.3%

Female48.7%

Race & ethnicity

78.9%

White78.9%

Black1.9%

Hispanic8.8%

Asian3.9%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

21.3%

67.7%

No HS diploma2.6%

HS diploma8.5%

Some college21.3%

Bachelor's+67.7%

Housing tenure

64%

36%

Owner64%

Renter36%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98136 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,858 → $2,423

up 30.4%

Income

$130,978 → $149,269

up 14.0%

Population

17,245 → 17,252

up 0.0%

Renter share

35.9% → 36%

+0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

64.7% → 67.7%

+3.0 pts

The median rent in ZIP 98136 in Seattle, WA stood at $1,858 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,423, reflecting a 30.4% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $130,978 in 2021 to $149,269 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 67.7% of adults here, versus 64.7% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98136 in Seattle, WA market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 98136

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98136 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $2,423/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,230/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,600/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($149,269/yr), ZIP 98136 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98136?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $97,000/year (about $47/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,423/mo in ZIP 98136. The local median household income is $149,269/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98136?

Rent in ZIP 98136 has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.3% below its high of $2,456 in March 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98136?

Asking rents in ZIP 98136 are usually lowest in December, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $61 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98136?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98136 rose 25.6% while median household income rose 31.2%, from $113,750 to $149,269. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98136 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98136 is one of the pricier among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #44 of 207 at $2,423/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98136 changed +2.8%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.