Zip code 98042: Kent, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98042?

98042 is assigned to Kent, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98042 in?

98042 is in King County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98042?

About 50,216 people live in 98042, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98042?

The median household income in 98042 is $127,552.

Q: What zip codes are near 98042?

The closest zip codes to 98042 are 98093, 98030, 98089, 98031, 98092.

Residential delivery areaKing CountyPacific Time

Population

50,216

Median household income

$128K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$659K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,118/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

28 sq mi

1,807 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 98042

98042 is a suburban zip code in Kent, Washington (King County), covering 28 sq mi of land. About 50,216 people live here, or 1,807 per square mile. The median resident is 39 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $127,552 a year, 58% above the national median of $80,734. 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $658,500, or 5.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,118 a month.

35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 33.5 minutes each way, and 18% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; office and administrative support; and construction and repair. 29% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.

How 98042 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Broadband access96.5%
89th
StrengthU.S. 91% · WA 93.6%83rd of 563 in WA
Tech workers6.6%
89th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%86th of 570 in WA
Median household income$127,552
88th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · WA $98,14166th of 541 in WA
Median gross rent$2,118
88th
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,76062nd of 475 in WA
Average commute33.5 min
88th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min94th of 546 in WA
Median home value$658,500
86th
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600110th of 536 in WA
Homeownership rate82.3%
84th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%170th of 563 in WA
Median earnings per worker$65,347
83rd
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959133rd of 566 in WA
Population50,216
81st
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,11622nd of 571 in WA
Per capita income$53,041
77th
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744139th of 570 in WA
Veterans7.6%
73rd
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%335th of 571 in WA
Foreign-born residents19.2%
73rd
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%100th of 571 in WA
Work from home17.7%
71st
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%187th of 570 in WA
Diversity index59.6
71st
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.597th of 571 in WA
Residents under 1823.7%
64th
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%167th of 571 in WA
Rent-burdened renters53.3%
60th
U.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%173rd of 541 in WA
Self-employed workers10%
59th
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%275th of 570 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher34.6%
56th
U.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%191st of 571 in WA
Population density1,807/sq mi
55th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi138th of 571 in WA
Median age39
50th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3348th of 571 in WA
Government workers13.6%
49th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%404th of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers8.8%
39th
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%270th of 570 in WA
Uninsured rate5%
33rd
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%331st of 567 in WA
Residents 65 and older14.3%
32nd
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%431st of 571 in WA
Unemployment rate3.6%
26th
U.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%390th of 570 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.392
15th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469395th of 560 in WA
Poverty rate4.7%
10th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%483rd of 563 in WA
Housing vacancy2.8%
9th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%502nd of 563 in WA

Measure	98042	King	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Broadband accessStrength	96.5%	95.1%	93.6%	91%	89th	83rd of 563
Tech workers	6.6%	12.8%	6.7%	3.8%	89th	86th of 570
Median household incomeStrength	$127,552	$124,746	$98,141	$80,734	88th	66th of 541
Median gross rent	$2,118	$2,092	$1,760	$1,413	88th	62nd of 475
Average commuteWeakness	33.5 min	27.6 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	88th	94th of 546
Median home value	$658,500	$859,900	$564,600	$332,700	86th	110th of 536
Homeownership rateStrength	82.3%	55.4%	63.8%	65.2%	84th	170th of 563
Median earnings per workerStrength	$65,347	$76,012	$59,959	$49,666	83rd	133rd of 566
Population	50,216	2,287,171	7,816,116	334,922,499	81st	22nd of 571
Per capita income	$53,041	$74,100	$53,744	$44,673	77th	139th of 570
Veterans	7.6%	4.5%	7.8%	6.2%	73rd	335th of 571
Foreign-born residents	19.2%	25.8%	15.4%	14.1%	73rd	100th of 571
Work from home	17.7%	29.2%	19.8%	15.1%	71st	187th of 570
Diversity index	59.6	65.6	56.5	61.4	71st	97th of 571
Residents under 18	23.7%	19.5%	21.4%	22%	64th	167th of 571
Rent-burdened renters	53.3%	46.8%	49.9%	51.1%	60th	173rd of 541
Self-employed workers	10%	9.4%	9.6%	10%	59th	275th of 570
Bachelor's degree or higher	34.6%	56.7%	39.6%	35.7%	56th	191st of 571
Population density	1,807/sq mi	1,081/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	55th	138th of 571
Median age	39	37.4	38.3	38.9	50th	348th of 571
Government workers	13.6%	11.7%	16%	14.5%	49th	404th of 570
Healthcare workers	8.8%	8.2%	9.3%	9.7%	39th	270th of 570
Uninsured rate	5%	5.2%	6.3%	8.4%	33rd	331st of 567
Residents 65 and older	14.3%	14%	16.6%	17.2%	32nd	431st of 571
Unemployment rate	3.6%	4.8%	5.1%	5.2%	26th	390th of 570
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.392	0.483	0.469	0.483	15th	395th of 560
Poverty rateStrength	4.7%	8.6%	9.9%	12.5%	10th	483rd of 563
Housing vacancy	2.8%	6.2%	7.3%	10.1%	9th	502nd of 563

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

14%

35–44

14%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

23.7%

65 and over

14.3%

Race and ethnicity

White60%
Black6%
Hispanic11%
Asian15%
Native American0.6%
Pacific Islander0.3%
Other0.9%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

59.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

19.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

49.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

71%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

11%

Other

Households

Households: 17,144
Average household size: 2.9
Family households: 78%
Married couples: 62.3%
Living alone: 15.8%
Veterans (of adults): 7.6%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

10%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

15%

$200k+

25%

Median household income

98042

$127,552

King Co.

$124,746

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$53,041

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

4.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

40.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.392

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98042

$658,500

King Co.

$859,900

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98042

$2,118

King Co.

$2,092

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

87%

2–4 units

0.9%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.2%

Housing units: 17,629
Owner-occupied: 82.3%
Vacant: 2.8%
Median year built: 1988
Median rooms: 6.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 53.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 31%
Home value to income: 5.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

70%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

18%

Other

0.5%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

16%

20–29

19%

30–44

33%

45–59

14%

60+

14%

Average commute

33.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

66.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Office and admin

11%

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Sales

Transportation and moving

Computer and math

Business and finance

Education

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Food service

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Manufacturing

13%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Retail

10%

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Arts and recreation

Public administration

Wholesale

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$65,347

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98042	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$96,291	$74,888
Service	$38,491	$26,804
Sales and office	$43,575	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$70,580	$49,199
Production and transportation	$60,185	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

22%

Some college

23%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 92.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.5%
Households with broadband: 96.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 84.9%
No internet access: 2.1%
Without health insurance: 5%
Limited-English households: 3.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Kent
State: Washington
County: King County
Center point: 47.3640° N, 122.1167° W
Land area: 28 sq mi
Water area: 0.6 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Lake Morton-Berrydale (unincorporated)35% of zip
Covington21% of zip
Kent16% of zip
Shadow Lake (unincorporated)2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 98042

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98093	Federal Way, WA · PO box	3.7 mi	—	—	—
98030	Kent, WA	3.8 mi	38,523	$91,761	$582,400
98089	Kent, WA · PO box	4.3 mi	—	—	—
98031	Kent, WA	4.6 mi	40,094	$105,965	$611,600
98092	Auburn, WA	5.1 mi	50,224	$122,300	$635,900
98058	Renton, WA	5.3 mi	42,980	$115,201	$676,000
98035	Kent, WA · PO box	5.6 mi	—	—	—
98064	Kent, WA · PO box	5.6 mi	—	—	—
98002	Auburn, WA	6 mi	37,509	$78,684	$421,300
98071	Auburn, WA · PO box	6.5 mi	—	—	—
98010	Black Diamond, WA	6.5 mi	6,857	$142,048	$775,400
98032	Kent, WA	6.8 mi	40,862	$82,636	$520,800

Zip codes like 98042 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 98042

What city is zip code 98042?

98042 is assigned to Kent, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98042 in?

98042 is in King County, Washington.

What is the population of 98042?

About 50,216 people live in 98042, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98042 in?

98042 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98042?

The median household income in 98042 is $127,552.

What zip codes are near 98042?

The closest zip codes to 98042 are 98093, 98030, 98089, 98031, 98092.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98042, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.