ZIP Code 98117: Population, Income, Housing

State: WA

Total population: 35,711 Household income: $182,984 Rent: $2,178

Overview

Total population

35,711

Rent

$2,178

Year built

1950

Household income

$182,984

Per capita income

$95,671

Poverty rate

4.6%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

28%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

County

King County

City

Seattle

Total population

35,711

Adults over 25

26,806

Total households

14,983

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$182,984

Per capita income

$95,671

Poverty rate

4.6%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

28%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$2,178

Year built

1950

Households that rent

27.4%

Households that own

72.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

77.6%

Black

1.1%

Asian

7.5%

Two or more races

12.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

11,723 (58.7%)

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

8,232 (41.3%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

12.1%

High school graduate or GED

7.4%

Some college or associate degree

4.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

75.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 98117 with: King County, WA Seattle, WA Seattle metro area, WA Washington State United States

ZIP 98117

Total population35,711

Rent$2,178

Year built1950

Household income$182,984

Per capita income$95,671

Poverty rate4.6%

Unemployment rateN/A

King County, WA

Total population2,287,171

Rent$2,092

Year built1983

Household income$124,746

Per capita income$74,100

Poverty rate8.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Seattle, WA

Total population754,195

Rent$2,030

Year built1976

Household income$123,860

Per capita income$86,095

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Seattle Metro Area, WA

Total population4,061,920

Rent$2,000

Year built1985

Household income$115,177

Per capita income$63,994

Poverty rate8.5%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP98117	CountyKing, WA	CitySeattle, WA	Metro AreaSeattle metro area, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	35,711	2,287,171	754,195	4,061,920	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$2,178	$2,092	$2,030	$2,000	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1950	1983	1976	1985	1985	1980
Household income	$182,984	$124,746	$123,860	$115,177	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$95,671	$74,100	$86,095	$63,994	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	4.6%	8.6%	9.9%	8.5%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3.4%	3.1%	4.2%	4.5%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 98117

Rent & Income

In 98117, the typical monthly rent is $2,178 and the typical household income is $182,984. Rent here is higher than in both Seattle and Washington, and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 4.6%, which is lower than in both Seattle and Washington.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 27.4% of households. Around 28% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 75.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 98117 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 98117 — Poverty

How ZIP 98117 compares in Washington State (102 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$2,178	87 / 102	from lower rent	$1,024 – $2,836
Household income	$182,984	4 / 102	from higher income	$48,231 – $244,362
Poverty rate	4.6%	4 / 102	from lower poverty	3.3% – 28.6%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Washington State with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 98117

Rent

Looking at rent levels, ZIP Code 98117 places 87th out of 102 ZIP Codes in Washington State. Throughout Washington State, numbers span from $1,024 in ZIP 98901 up to $2,836 in ZIP 98006.

Household income

In terms of earnings, this ZIP comes 4th out of 102 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from $48,231 in ZIP 99163 up to $244,362 in ZIP 98074.

Poverty rate

In terms of poverty rate, ZIP Code 98117 comes 4th out of 102 ZIP Codes. In Washington State as a whole, the range goes from 3.3% in ZIP 98685 up to 28.6% in ZIP 99163.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 98117 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,178 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 98117

Annual Household Income: $182,984

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 98117

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 98117

In ZIP Code 98117, households that rent: 4,103 (27.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	4,103	27.4%
Owner-Occupied	10,880	72.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 98117

In ZIP Code 98117, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,150 (28%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	1,150	28%
Other renter households	2,953	72%
Total renter households	4,103	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 98117

Less than High School: 3,241 people (12.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 1,984 people (7.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 1,265 people (4.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20,316 people (75.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 26,806

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.