ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98146

Part of Burien, WA

Pop. 28,573·King County·145th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,839/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$93

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98146 · $1,839

More expensive than 52% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,810

1 BR

$1,870

2 BR

$2,180

3 BR

$2,850

4 BR+

$3,350

Research median

$2,180/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98146 is 0.3% below its high of $1,845 in February 2025, at $1,839 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98146 changed +0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($102,520) is $2,563 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,180); a 3-bedroom is $2,850.

Rank in Burien

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Burien.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98146. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,068/yr

At $1,839/mo median

Location

CityBurien

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 (+0.9% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98146 (Burien, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 38.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

28,573

Median income

$102,520

Median age

40.3

Renters

36%

Age distribution

23.5%

19.3%

30%

12.3%

14.9%

Under 1823.5%

18–3419.3%

35–5430%

55–6412.3%

65+14.9%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

45.8%

20.5%

19.9%

White45.8%

Black8.6%

Hispanic20.5%

Asian19.9%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

13.3%

18.7%

29.1%

38.9%

No HS diploma13.3%

HS diploma18.7%

Some college29.1%

Bachelor's+38.9%

Housing tenure

64%

36%

Owner64%

Renter36%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 98146 in Burien, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,727 → $1,839

up 6.5%

Income

$91,667 → $102,520

up 11.8%

Population

27,879 → 28,573

up 2.5%

Renter share

34.7% → 36%

+1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

32.9% → 38.9%

+6.0 pts

Median age

39.4 → 40.3

+0.9 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 98146 in Burien, WA has shifted from $1,727 to $1,839, up 6.5% since 2023. Household income in the area moved from $91,667 to $102,520 across the same window, up 11.8% versus 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 98146 in Burien, WA adding about 694 residents over the five-year window, up 2.5% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 32.9% to 38.9% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98146 in Burien, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 98146

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98146 covers Burien, WA. The median rent here is $1,839/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,870/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,180/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($102,520/yr), ZIP 98146 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98146?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $74,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,839/mo in ZIP 98146. The local median household income is $102,520/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98146?

Rent in ZIP 98146 has risen 0.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $1,845 in February 2025.

How does ZIP 98146 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98146 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #145 of 207 at $1,839/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98146 changed +0.9%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.