ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98531

Part of Centralia, WA

Pop. 27,337·Lewis County·200th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,414/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$518

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98531 · $1,414

More affordable than 79% 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

$1,260

1 BR

$1,430

2 BR

$1,660

3 BR

$2,280

4 BR+

$2,790

Research median

$1,660/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

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98531 changed +7.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($63,406) is $1,585 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,430); a 2-bedroom is $1,660.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98531. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,968/yr

At $1,414/mo median

Location

CityCentralia

StateWA

CountyLewis County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.0% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98531 (Centralia, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 22.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,337

Median income

$63,406

Median age

40.3

Renters

34.3%

Age distribution

20.1%

23.8%

22.2%

13.5%

20.4%

Under 1820.1%

18–3423.8%

35–5422.2%

55–6413.5%

65+20.4%

Gender

48.4%

51.6%

Male48.4%

Female51.6%

Race & ethnicity

77.4%

18.5%

White77.4%

Black1%

Hispanic18.5%

Asian1.5%

Other1.7%

Education (25+)

29.7%

37.8%

22.1%

No HS diploma10.4%

HS diploma29.7%

Some college37.8%

Bachelor's+22.1%

Housing tenure

65.7%

34.3%

Owner65.7%

Renter34.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98531 in Centralia, WA has changed in 5 years

Income

$50,009 → $63,406

up 26.8%

Population

26,501 → 27,337

up 3.2%

Renter share

39% → 34.3%

-4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

18.9% → 22.1%

+3.2 pts

Median age

38.4 → 40.3

+1.9 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $50,009 in 2021 to $63,406 more recently. Census counts show ZIP 98531 in Centralia, WA adding about 836 residents over the five-year window, up 3.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 39% to 34.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 18.9% to 22.1% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 98531

About renting in ZIP 98531

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98531 covers Centralia, WA. The median rent here is $1,414/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,430/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,660/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($63,406/yr), ZIP 98531 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98531?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $57,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,414/mo in ZIP 98531. The local median household income is $63,406/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98531?

Rent in ZIP 98531 has risen 7.0% over the past year.

How does ZIP 98531 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98531 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #200 of 207 at $1,414/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98531 changed +7.0%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.