ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98188

Part of Seatac, WA

Pop. 27,311·King County·142nd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,889/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.3%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$43

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98188 · $1,889

More expensive than 55% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,800

1 BR

$1,850

2 BR

$2,160

3 BR

$2,850

4 BR+

$3,320

Research median

$2,160/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

March. Asking rents in ZIP 98188 usually run 1% below trend in March and 1.4% above it in August, about $45 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98188 is 1.3% below its high of $1,914 in July 2026, at $1,889 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98188 changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($76,438) is $1,911 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,850); a 2-bedroom is $2,160.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98188. 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

$22,668/yr

At $1,889/mo median

Location

CitySeatac

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 (+2.3% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98188 (Seatac, WA) is majority renter-occupied, 28.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,311

Median income

$76,438

Median age

37.5

Renters

58.5%

Age distribution

20.6%

24.7%

29.5%

14%

Under 1820.6%

18–3424.7%

35–5429.5%

55–6411.3%

65+14%

Gender

55.4%

44.6%

Male55.4%

Female44.6%

Race & ethnicity

29.1%

27.8%

20.5%

14.5%

White29.1%

Black27.8%

Hispanic20.5%

Asian14.5%

Other8.1%

Education (25+)

12.1%

29.6%

30.2%

28.1%

No HS diploma12.1%

HS diploma29.6%

Some college30.2%

Bachelor's+28.1%

Housing tenure

41.5%

58.5%

Owner41.5%

Renter58.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98188 in Seatac, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,417 → $1,889

up 33.3%

Income

$71,223 → $76,438

up 7.3%

Population

27,524 → 27,311

down 0.8%

Renter share

55.4% → 58.5%

+3.1 pts

Bachelor's+

25.3% → 28.1%

+2.8 pts

The median rent in ZIP 98188 in Seatac, WA stood at $1,417 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,889, reflecting a 33.3% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $71,223 to $76,438 across the same window, up 7.3% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 58.5% of households, compared with 55.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 28.1% of adults here, versus 25.3% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98188 in Seatac, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 98188

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98188 covers Seatac, WA. The median rent here is $1,889/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,850/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,160/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($76,438/yr), ZIP 98188 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98188?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,889/mo in ZIP 98188. The local median household income is $76,438/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98188?

Rent in ZIP 98188 has risen 2.3% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.3% below its high of $1,914 in July 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98188?

Asking rents in ZIP 98188 are usually lowest in March, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $45 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 98188 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98188 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #142 of 207 at $1,889/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98188 changed +2.3%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.