ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98685

Part of Vancouver, WA

Pop. 30,607·Clark County·40th most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$2,468/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.2%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

+$536

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98685 · $2,468

More expensive 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

$1,760

1 BR

$1,890

2 BR

$2,160

3 BR

$2,940

4 BR+

$3,490

Research median

$2,160/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 98685 is 2.7% below its high of $2,536 in May 2026, at $2,468 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98685 changed -0.2% 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 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($130,972) is $3,274 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,940); a 4-bedroom is $3,490.

Rank in Vancouver

11th cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Vancouver.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 98660, 3 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,964/mo), about $6,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98685. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$29,616/yr

At $2,468/mo median

Location

CityVancouver

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 (-0.2% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98685 (Vancouver, WA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 42.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,607

Median income

$130,972

Median age

44.4

Renters

15.2%

Age distribution

21.6%

16.4%

25.7%

17.7%

18.6%

Under 1821.6%

18–3416.4%

35–5425.7%

55–6417.7%

65+18.6%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

80.4%

White80.4%

Black1%

Hispanic8.8%

Asian4.1%

Other5.7%

Education (25+)

19.3%

33.6%

42.2%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma19.3%

Some college33.6%

Bachelor's+42.2%

Housing tenure

84.8%

15.2%

Owner84.8%

Renter15.2%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 98685 in Vancouver, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,370 → $2,468

up 4.1%

Income

$112,375 → $130,972

up 16.5%

Population

30,199 → 30,607

up 1.4%

Renter share

17.6% → 15.2%

-2.4 pts

Bachelor's+

46.5% → 42.2%

-4.3 pts

The median rent in ZIP 98685 in Vancouver, WA stood at $2,370 in 2023 and currently runs about $2,468, reflecting a 4.1% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $112,375 to $130,972 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.5% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 30,199 residents to roughly 30,607. Renters now make up 15.2% of households, compared with 17.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 42.2% of adults here, versus 46.5% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 98685 in Vancouver, WA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 98685

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98685 covers Vancouver, WA. The median rent here is $2,468/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,890/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,160/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($130,972/yr), ZIP 98685 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98685?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $99,000/year (about $48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,468/mo in ZIP 98685. The local median household income is $130,972/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98685?

Rent in ZIP 98685 has been roughly flat over the past year as of September 2026, a -0.2% change. It sits 2.7% below its high of $2,536 in May 2026.

How does ZIP 98685 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98685 is one of the pricier among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #40 of 207 at $2,468/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98685 changed -0.2%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.