ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98626

Part of Kelso, WA

Pop. 26,892·Cowlitz County·193rd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,473/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.4%

vs US Median

-$459

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98626 · $1,473

More affordable than 75% 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

$990

1 BR

$1,190

2 BR

$1,440

3 BR

$2,000

4 BR+

$2,420

Research median

$1,440/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98626 is 0.9% below its high of $1,487 in July 2026, at $1,473 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98626 changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($75,528) is $1,888 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,440); a 3-bedroom is $2,000.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98626. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,676/yr

At $1,473/mo median

Location

CityKelso

StateWA

CountyCowlitz County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98626 (Kelso, WA) is majority owner-occupied, 14.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,892

Median income

$75,528

Median age

41.5

Renters

31.5%

Age distribution

22.4%

20.2%

29.3%

17.1%

Under 1822.4%

18–3420.2%

35–5429.3%

55–6411%

65+17.1%

Gender

50.3%

49.7%

Male50.3%

Female49.7%

Race & ethnicity

84.7%

White84.7%

Black0.9%

Hispanic7.1%

Asian0.9%

Other6.4%

Education (25+)

34.4%

41.3%

14.7%

No HS diploma9.6%

HS diploma34.4%

Some college41.3%

Bachelor's+14.7%

Housing tenure

68.5%

31.5%

Owner68.5%

Renter31.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 98626 in Kelso, WA has changed in 5 years

Income

$64,782 → $75,528

up 16.6%

Population

26,579 → 26,892

up 1.2%

Renter share

31.3% → 31.5%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

15.6% → 14.7%

-0.9 pts

Median age

40.2 → 41.5

+1.3 yrs

Median household income grew from $64,782 to $75,528 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.6% shift. Headcount in the area went from 26,579 to 26,892 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.2% change.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 98626

About renting in ZIP 98626

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98626 covers Kelso, WA. The median rent here is $1,473/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,190/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,440/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($75,528/yr), ZIP 98626 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98626?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,473/mo in ZIP 98626. The local median household income is $75,528/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98626?

Rent in ZIP 98626 has risen 4.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $1,487 in July 2026.

How does ZIP 98626 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98626 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #193 of 207 at $1,473/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98626 changed +4.4%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.