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ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98226

Pop. 46,782·Whatcom County·109th most expensive ZIP in Washington
Median rent (all units)
$2,036/mo
Year-over-Year
-1.0%
Month-over-Month
+2.3%
vs US Median
+$71
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 98226 · $2,036
More expensive than 62% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/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: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$24,432/yr
At $2,036/mo median
Location
StateWA
CountyWhatcom County
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (1.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (-1.0% YoY, +2.3% 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
$1,561 → $2,036
up 30.4%
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 $475 per month, settling near $2,036 after starting the period at $1,561. 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 17.8 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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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98226

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 98226 covers Bellingham, WA. The median rent here is $2,036/mo as of July 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 decreased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 98226?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 98226 (Bellingham, WA) is $2,036. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 98226 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 98226's median rent of $2,036/mo is $71 (4%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 98226 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98226 falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #109 out of 209 ZIPs at $2,036/mo.

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 (~$39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,036/mo in ZIP 98226. The local median household income is $79,375/yr, meaning the typical household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98226?

Rent in ZIP 98226 has decreased 1.0% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Is ZIP 98226 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 98226 is considered moderate for renters. At $2,036/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($79,375/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 98226 slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

What percentage of ZIP 98226 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.6% of ZIP 98226 households are renters, while 62.4% are owner-occupied. ZIP 98226 leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does ZIP 98226 compare to the rest of Bellingham?

ZIP 98226 is pricier than Bellingham as a whole. At $2,036/mo, it's $60 above the Bellingham citywide median of $1,976/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 98226 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 98226 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
31%
MODERATE

At $2,036/mo, rent takes ~31% of ZIP 98226's median household income ($79,375/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 98226 31%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 98226 (Bellingham, WA)

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