ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98409

Part of Tacoma, WA

Pop. 27,843·Pierce County·180th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,652/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$280

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98409 · $1,652

More affordable than 62% 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

$1,560

2 BR

$1,910

3 BR

$2,650

4 BR+

$3,010

Research median

$1,910/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 98409 usually run 0.4% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in June, about $15 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98409 is 0.2% below its high of $1,656 in August 2026, at $1,652 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98409 changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98409 rose 34.6% while median household income rose 37.5% ($53,328 to $73,348). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 98409 is 39.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,348) is $1,834 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,560); a 2-bedroom is $1,910.

Rank in Tacoma

2nd cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Tacoma.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98409. 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

$19,824/yr

At $1,652/mo median

Location

CityTacoma

StateWA

CountyPierce County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98409 (Tacoma, WA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 22.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,843

Median income

$73,348

Median age

33.2

Renters

55.6%

Age distribution

20.4%

33.6%

24.5%

Under 1820.4%

18–3433.6%

35–5424.5%

55–6411.1%

65+10.4%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

50.9%

17.4%

16.1%

White50.9%

Black17.4%

Hispanic16.1%

Asian9%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

12.8%

27.7%

37.1%

22.4%

No HS diploma12.8%

HS diploma27.7%

Some college37.1%

Bachelor's+22.4%

Housing tenure

44.4%

55.6%

Owner44.4%

Renter55.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98409 in Tacoma, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,311 → $1,652

up 26.0%

Income

$58,619 → $73,348

up 25.1%

Population

28,403 → 27,843

down 2.0%

Renter share

59% → 55.6%

-3.4 pts

Bachelor's+

18.8% → 22.4%

+3.6 pts

Median age

31 → 33.2

+2.2 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 98409 in Tacoma, WA stood at $1,311 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,652, reflecting a 26.0% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $58,619 in 2021 to $73,348 more recently. The population has contracted by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 28,403 residents to roughly 27,843. Renters now make up 55.6% of households, compared with 59% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 22.4% of adults here, versus 18.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98409 in Tacoma, WA market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 98409

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98409 covers Tacoma, WA. The median rent here is $1,652/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,560/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,910/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($73,348/yr), ZIP 98409 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98409?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,652/mo in ZIP 98409. The local median household income is $73,348/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98409?

Rent in ZIP 98409 has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $1,656 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98409?

Asking rents in ZIP 98409 are usually lowest in December, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $15 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 98409?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 98409 rose 34.6% while median household income rose 37.5%, from $53,328 to $73,348. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 98409 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98409 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #180 of 207 at $1,652/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98409 changed +2.8%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.