ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98226

Part of Bellingham, WA

Pop. 46,782·Whatcom County·107th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,024/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

+$92

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98226 · $2,024

More expensive than 63% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,430

1 BR

$1,460

2 BR

$1,760

3 BR

$2,450

4 BR+

$2,950

Research median

$1,760/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

February. Asking rents in ZIP 98226 usually run 0.4% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in May, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98226 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98226 changed +1.9% 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 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($79,375) is $1,984 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,760); a 3-bedroom is $2,450.

Rank in Bellingham

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Bellingham.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98225, 4 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,776/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98226. 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

$24,288/yr

At $2,024/mo median

Location

CityBellingham

StateWA

CountyWhatcom County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98226 (Bellingham, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 39.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

46,782

Median income

$79,375

Median age

41.1

Renters

37.6%

Age distribution

16.6%

23.8%

25.9%

12.9%

20.8%

Under 1816.6%

18–3423.8%

35–5425.9%

55–6412.9%

65+20.8%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

73.9%

White73.9%

Black1.4%

Hispanic9%

Asian6.3%

Other9.3%

Education (25+)

21.4%

33.4%

39.7%

No HS diploma5.5%

HS diploma21.4%

Some college33.4%

Bachelor's+39.7%

Housing tenure

62.4%

37.6%

Owner62.4%

Renter37.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98226 in Bellingham, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,460 → $2,024

up 38.6%

Income

$70,522 → $79,375

up 12.6%

Population

45,373 → 46,782

up 3.1%

Renter share

38.2% → 37.6%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

36.9% → 39.7%

+2.8 pts

Median age

39.4 → 41.1

+1.7 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98226 in Bellingham, WA has climbed by $564 per month, settling near $2,024 after starting the period at $1,460. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $70,522 in 2021 to $79,375 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 26.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 45,373 to 46,782 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 36.9% to 39.7%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98226 in Bellingham, WA market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 98226

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98226 covers Bellingham, WA. The median rent here is $2,024/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,460/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,760/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($79,375/yr), ZIP 98226 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98226?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,024/mo in ZIP 98226. The local median household income is $79,375/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98226?

Rent in ZIP 98226 has risen 1.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98226?

Asking rents in ZIP 98226 are usually lowest in February, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $18 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 98226 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98226 is in the middle among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #107 of 207 at $2,024/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98226 changed +1.9%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.