ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98642

Part of Ridgefield, WA

Pop. 26,816·Clark County·47th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,384/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.4%

vs US Median

+$452

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98642 · $2,384

More expensive than 76% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,890

1 BR

$2,020

2 BR

$2,310

3 BR

$3,150

4 BR+

$3,740

Research median

$2,310/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

February. Asking rents in ZIP 98642 usually run 1.5% below trend in February and 1.5% above it in September, about $72 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98642 is 0.4% below its high of $2,394 in August 2026, at $2,384 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98642 changed +1.4% 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 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($120,822) is $3,021 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,310); a 3-bedroom is $3,150.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98629, 6 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,970/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98642. 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

$28,608/yr

At $2,384/mo median

Location

CityRidgefield

StateWA

CountyClark 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 (+1.4% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98642 (Ridgefield, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 40.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,816

Median income

$120,822

Median age

40.3

Renters

15.9%

Age distribution

25.5%

17.2%

27.1%

18.5%

Under 1825.5%

18–3417.2%

35–5427.1%

55–6411.7%

65+18.5%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

83.7%

White83.7%

Black1.3%

Hispanic8.6%

Asian2.8%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

19.7%

34.9%

40.8%

No HS diploma4.5%

HS diploma19.7%

Some college34.9%

Bachelor's+40.8%

Housing tenure

84.1%

15.9%

Owner84.1%

Renter15.9%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 98642 in Ridgefield, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,167 → $2,384

up 10.0%

Income

$101,314 → $120,822

up 19.3%

Population

22,934 → 26,816

up 16.9%

Renter share

18.4% → 15.9%

-2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

34% → 40.8%

+6.8 pts

Compared with 2022, rent in ZIP 98642 in Ridgefield, WA has climbed by $217 per month, settling near $2,384 after starting the period at $2,167. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $101,314 in 2021 to $120,822 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 9.3 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 22,934 to 26,816 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.9% change. About 15.9% of households rent today, against 18.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 34% to 40.8%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98642 in Ridgefield, WA market of 2022.

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About renting in ZIP 98642

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98642 covers Ridgefield, WA. The median rent here is $2,384/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,310/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($120,822/yr), ZIP 98642 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98642?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $95,000/year (about $46/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,384/mo in ZIP 98642. The local median household income is $120,822/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98642?

Rent in ZIP 98642 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.4% below its high of $2,394 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 98642?

Asking rents in ZIP 98642 are usually lowest in February, about 1.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 1.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $72 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 98642 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98642 is one of the pricier among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #47 of 207 at $2,384/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98642 changed +1.4%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.