ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98388

Part of Steilacoom, WA

Pop. 7,043·Pierce County·149th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,805/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

-$127

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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ZIP 98388 · $1,805

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

$1,370

1 BR

$1,540

2 BR

$1,890

3 BR

$2,620

4 BR+

$2,970

Research median

$1,890/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($100,851) is $2,521 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,890); a 3-bedroom is $2,620.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98388. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,660/yr

At $1,805/mo median

Location

CitySteilacoom

StateWA

CountyPierce 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 (+0.0% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98388 (Steilacoom, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 45.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

7,043

Median income

$100,851

Median age

40.7

Renters

37.1%

Age distribution

19.3%

20.9%

26.8%

14%

19.1%

Under 1819.3%

18–3420.9%

35–5426.8%

55–6414%

65+19.1%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

74.9%

12.6%

White74.9%

Black5%

Hispanic12.6%

Asian5.6%

Other2%

Education (25+)

16.2%

29.9%

45.8%

No HS diploma8.2%

HS diploma16.2%

Some college29.9%

Bachelor's+45.8%

Housing tenure

62.9%

37.1%

Owner62.9%

Renter37.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98388 in Steilacoom, WA has changed in 5 years

Income

$95,316 → $100,851

up 5.8%

Population

6,975 → 7,043

up 1.0%

Renter share

36% → 37.1%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

42.2% → 45.8%

+3.6 pts

Median age

41.3 → 40.7

-0.6 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $95,316 to $100,851 across the same window, up 5.8% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 98388 in Steilacoom, WA adding about 68 residents over the five-year window, up 1.0% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 42.2% to 45.8% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98388

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98388 covers Steilacoom, WA. The median rent here is $1,805/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,540/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,890/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($100,851/yr), ZIP 98388 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98388?

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 $1,805/mo in ZIP 98388. The local median household income is $100,851/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.