ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98422

Part of Tacoma, WA

Pop. 21,644·Pierce County·71st most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,206/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

+$274

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98422 · $2,206

More expensive than 71% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,800

1 BR

$1,970

2 BR

$2,420

3 BR

$3,360

4 BR+

$3,810

Research median

$2,420/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 98422 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1% above it in May, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98422 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in July 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98422 changed +8.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($118,604) is $2,965 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,420); a 3-bedroom is $3,360.

Rank in Tacoma

10th cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Tacoma.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98403, 4 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,658/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98422. 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

$26,472/yr

At $2,206/mo median

Location

CityTacoma

StateWA

CountyPierce County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.3% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98422 (Tacoma, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,644

Median income

$118,604

Median age

Renters

21.9%

Age distribution

22.9%

20.2%

25.6%

14.1%

17.1%

Under 1822.9%

18–3420.2%

35–5425.6%

55–6414.1%

65+17.1%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

59.8%

12.7%

White59.8%

Black7.3%

Hispanic11.1%

Asian12.7%

Other9.1%

Education (25+)

19.7%

34.1%

40.8%

No HS diploma5.5%

HS diploma19.7%

Some college34.1%

Bachelor's+40.8%

Housing tenure

78.1%

21.9%

Owner78.1%

Renter21.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98422 in Tacoma, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,570 → $2,206

up 40.5%

Income

$103,171 → $118,604

up 15.0%

Population

22,002 → 21,644

down 1.6%

Renter share

22.3% → 21.9%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

38.9% → 40.8%

+1.9 pts

Median age

39 → 40

+1.0 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 98422 in Tacoma, WA has increased by $636 per month, settling near $2,206 after starting the period at $1,570. Household income in the area moved from $103,171 to $118,604 across the same window, up 15.0% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.5 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 22,002 to 21,644 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.6% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 98422 in Tacoma, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 98422

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98422 covers Tacoma, WA. The median rent here is $2,206/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,420/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($118,604/yr), ZIP 98422 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98422?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $88,000/year (about $42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,206/mo in ZIP 98422. The local median household income is $118,604/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98422?

Rent in ZIP 98422 has risen 8.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in July 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98422?

Asking rents in ZIP 98422 are usually lowest in January, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $51 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 98422 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98422 is in the middle among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #71 of 207 at $2,206/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98422 changed +8.3%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.