ZIP 98144
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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
January. Asking rents in ZIP 98144 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in September, about $49 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 98144 is 0.3% below its high of $1,952 in August 2026, at $1,946 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 98144 changed +0.2% 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 98144 rose 19.6% while median household income rose 23.7% ($78,414 to $96,969). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 98144 is 14.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($96,969) is $2,424 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,200); a 2-bedroom is $2,560.
2nd cheapest of 22 ZIP codes in Seattle.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98144. 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 98144 (Seattle, WA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 61.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 98144 in Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 98144 in Seattle, WA has climbed from $1,601 to $1,946, a 21.5% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 98144 in Seattle, WA now reports about $96,969, up from $90,239 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 6.8% since 2021, moving from about 31,648 residents to roughly 33,787. Renters now make up 54.5% of households, compared with 52% five years ago. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 98144 in Seattle, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 98144
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 98144 covers Seattle, WA. The median rent here is $1,946/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,540/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,792/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($96,969/yr), ZIP 98144 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 98144 compare to the rest of Seattle?
At $1,946/mo, rent takes ~24% of ZIP 98144's median household income ($96,969/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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