ZIP 98229
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 98229 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2021.
Rent in ZIP 98229 changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,945) is $2,274 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,890); a 3-bedroom is $2,630.
3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Bellingham.
ZIP 98225, 6 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,776/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98229. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 98229 (Bellingham, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 53.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 98229 in Bellingham, WA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 98229 in Bellingham, WA stood at $1,789 in 2022 and currently runs about $2,178, reflecting a 21.7% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $77,804 to $90,945 across the same window, up 16.9% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.6% since 2021, moving from about 34,182 residents to roughly 33,298. College-educated residents now make up 53.1% of adults here, versus 49.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98229 in Bellingham, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 98229
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 98229 covers Bellingham, WA. The median rent here is $2,178/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,570/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,890/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($90,945/yr), ZIP 98229 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98229?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98229?
How does ZIP 98229 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?
How does ZIP 98229 compare to the rest of Bellingham?
At $2,178/mo, rent takes ~29% of ZIP 98229's median household income ($90,945/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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