ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98148

Part of Burien, WA

Pop. 9,715·King County·152nd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,796/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$136

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98148 · $1,796

More affordable than 51% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,374

1 BR

$1,418

2 BR

$1,655

3 BR

$2,164

4 BR+

$2,548

Research median

$1,655/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 98148 is 0.9% below its high of $1,813 in July 2026, at $1,796 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98148 changed +3.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($87,342) is $2,184 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,920); a 2-bedroom is $2,240.

Rank in Burien

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Burien.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98148. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,552/yr

At $1,796/mo median

Location

CityBurien

StateWA

CountyKing County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.9% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98148 (Burien, WA) is roughly split between renters and owners, 33.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

9,715

Median income

$87,342

Median age

36.4

Renters

49.5%

Age distribution

21.6%

26.2%

28.2%

12.3%

Under 1821.6%

18–3426.2%

35–5428.2%

55–6412.3%

65+11.7%

Gender

53.4%

46.6%

Male53.4%

Female46.6%

Race & ethnicity

47.1%

12.6%

24%

White47.1%

Black12.6%

Hispanic24%

Asian10.6%

Other5.8%

Education (25+)

22.8%

32.3%

33.7%

No HS diploma11.2%

HS diploma22.8%

Some college32.3%

Bachelor's+33.7%

Housing tenure

50.5%

49.5%

Owner50.5%

Renter49.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98148 in Burien, WA has changed in 5 years

Income

$77,490 → $87,342

up 12.7%

Population

11,068 → 9,715

down 12.2%

Renter share

54.2% → 49.5%

-4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

23.2% → 33.7%

+10.5 pts

Median age

35.9 → 36.4

+0.5 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $77,490 to $87,342 across the same window, up 12.7% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 98148 in Burien, WA losing about 1,353 residents over the five-year window, down 12.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 54.2% to 49.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 23.2% to 33.7% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98148

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98148 covers Burien, WA. The median rent here is $1,796/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,418/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,655/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($87,342/yr), ZIP 98148 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98148?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,796/mo in ZIP 98148. The local median household income is $87,342/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98148?

Rent in ZIP 98148 has risen 3.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $1,813 in July 2026.

How does ZIP 98148 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98148 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #152 of 207 at $1,796/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98148 changed +3.9%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.