ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98402

Part of Tacoma, WA

Pop. 8,080·Pierce County·161st most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,752/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$180

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98402 · $1,752

More affordable than 54% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,380

1 BR

$1,550

2 BR

$1,900

3 BR

$2,630

4 BR+

$2,990

Research median

$1,900/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

November. Asking rents in ZIP 98402 usually run 1.6% below trend in November and 1.2% above it in June, about $49 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98402 is 0.2% below its high of $1,756 in August 2026, at $1,752 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98402 changed +0.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98402 is 20.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($60,505) is $1,513 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,380); a 1-bedroom is $1,550.

Rank in Tacoma

6th cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Tacoma.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98402. 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

$21,024/yr

At $1,752/mo median

Location

CityTacoma

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 (+0.8% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98402 (Tacoma, WA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 43.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,080

Median income

$60,505

Median age

33.5

Renters

82.2%

Age distribution

48.3%

20.2%

14.5%

Under 187.4%

18–3448.3%

35–5420.2%

55–649.7%

65+14.5%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

66.1%

White66.1%

Black8.5%

Hispanic11.2%

Asian8%

Other6.2%

Education (25+)

20.3%

27.7%

43.4%

No HS diploma8.6%

HS diploma20.3%

Some college27.7%

Bachelor's+43.4%

Housing tenure

17.8%

82.2%

Owner17.8%

Renter82.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98402 in Tacoma, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,530 → $1,752

up 14.5%

Income

$55,250 → $60,505

up 9.5%

Population

6,805 → 8,080

up 18.7%

Renter share

77.8% → 82.2%

+4.4 pts

Bachelor's+

43.3% → 43.4%

+0.1 pts

Median age

36.3 → 33.5

-2.8 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 98402 in Tacoma, WA has increased from $1,530 to $1,752, a 14.5% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 98402 in Tacoma, WA now reports about $60,505, up from $55,250 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 18.7% since 2021, moving from about 6,805 residents to roughly 8,080. Renters now make up 82.2% of households, compared with 77.8% five years ago. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 98402 in Tacoma, WA reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 98402

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98402 covers Tacoma, WA. The median rent here is $1,752/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,550/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,900/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($60,505/yr), ZIP 98402 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98402?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,752/mo in ZIP 98402. The local median household income is $60,505/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98402?

Rent in ZIP 98402 has risen 0.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $1,756 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98402?

Asking rents in ZIP 98402 are usually lowest in November, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $49 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 98402 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98402 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #161 of 207 at $1,752/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98402 changed +0.7%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.