ZIP Code · WA

ZIP 98926

Part of Ellensburg, WA

Pop. 34,353·Kittitas County·192nd most expensive ZIP in Washington

Median rent (all units)

$1,481/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$451

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 98926 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 98926 · $1,481

More affordable than 74% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,000

1 BR

$1,110

2 BR

$1,450

3 BR

$2,020

4 BR+

$2,430

Research median

$1,450/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 98926 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in ZIP 98926 changed +3.7% 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 7 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($71,137) is $1,778 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,450); a 3-bedroom is $2,020.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 98926. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,772/yr

At $1,481/mo median

Location

CityEllensburg

StateWA

CountyKittitas County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 98926 (Ellensburg, WA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 39.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,353

Median income

$71,137

Median age

30.2

Renters

47.5%

Age distribution

17%

38.9%

18.9%

14.7%

Under 1817%

18–3438.9%

35–5418.9%

55–6410.5%

65+14.7%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

81.3%

White81.3%

Black1.4%

Hispanic11.1%

Asian2.1%

Other4%

Education (25+)

22%

32.5%

39.8%

No HS diploma5.6%

HS diploma22%

Some college32.5%

Bachelor's+39.8%

Housing tenure

52.5%

47.5%

Owner52.5%

Renter47.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 98926 in Ellensburg, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,286 → $1,481

up 15.2%

Income

$61,839 → $71,137

up 15.0%

Population

32,559 → 34,353

up 5.5%

Renter share

46.5% → 47.5%

+1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

37.8% → 39.8%

+2.0 pts

Median age

29.3 → 30.2

+0.9 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 98926 in Ellensburg, WA stood at $1,286 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,481, reflecting a 15.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $61,839 in 2021 to $71,137 more recently. The population has grown by 5.5% since 2021, moving from about 32,559 residents to roughly 34,353. College-educated residents now make up 39.8% of adults here, versus 37.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 98926 in Ellensburg, WA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 98926

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 98926

About renting in ZIP 98926

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 98926 covers Ellensburg, WA. The median rent here is $1,481/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,110/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,450/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($71,137/yr), ZIP 98926 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 98926?

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 $1,481/mo in ZIP 98926. The local median household income is $71,137/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 98926?

Rent in ZIP 98926 has risen 3.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.

How does ZIP 98926 compare to other ZIPs in Washington?

ZIP 98926 is one of the more affordable among Washington ZIP codes for rent, ranking #192 of 207 at $1,481/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 98926 changed +3.7%, against a typical +2.5% across the 193 Washington ZIP codes Zillow tracks.