Zip code 98226: Bellingham, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98226?

98226 is assigned to Bellingham, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98226 in?

98226 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98226?

About 46,782 people live in 98226, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98226?

The median household income in 98226 is $79,375.

Q: What zip codes are near 98226?

The closest zip codes to 98226 are 98227, 98228, 98225, 98229, 98247.

Residential delivery areaWhatcom CountyPacific Time

Population

46,782

Median household income

$79K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$608K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,620/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

106 sq mi

442 people/sq mi

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

About 98226

98226 is a small-town zip code in Bellingham, Washington (Whatcom County), covering 106 sq mi of land. About 46,782 people live here, or 442 per square mile. The median resident is 41.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $79,375 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 12% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $607,600, or 7.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 62% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,620 a month.

40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 19.2 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and office and administrative support. 16% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 98226 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers15.8%
92nd
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%109th of 570 in WA
Median home value$607,600
82nd
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600140th of 536 in WA
Rent-burdened renters59.2%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%93rd of 541 in WA
Broadband access95.2%
78th
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%161st of 563 in WA
Residents 65 and older20.8%
78th
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%229th of 571 in WA
Population46,782
77th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,11628th of 571 in WA
Median age41.1
66th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3277th of 571 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher39.7%
65th
U.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%152nd of 571 in WA
Healthcare workers10.5%
65th
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%165th of 570 in WA
Per capita income$45,504
63rd
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744242nd of 570 in WA
Median gross rent$1,620
62nd
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760193rd of 475 in WA
Government workers15.3%
61st
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%340th of 570 in WA
Poverty rate12%
56th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%200th of 563 in WA
Veterans6.2%
55th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%411th of 571 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.439
54th
U.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469210th of 560 in WA
Uninsured rate7.2%
53rd
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%195th of 567 in WA
Work from home13.2%
52nd
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%302nd of 570 in WA
Foreign-born residents10.5%
52nd
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%198th of 571 in WA
Median earnings per worker$48,271
50th
U.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959348th of 566 in WA
Median household income$79,375
49th
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141311th of 541 in WA
Tech workers2.8%
48th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%274th of 570 in WA
Diversity index46.8
46th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5222nd of 571 in WA
Unemployment rate4.3%
39th
U.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%326th of 570 in WA
Homeownership rate62.4%
36th
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%427th of 563 in WA
Population density442/sq mi
31st
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi214th of 571 in WA
Housing vacancy4.4%
27th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%423rd of 563 in WA
Residents under 1816.6%
13th
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%399th of 571 in WA
Average commute19.2 min
10th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min468th of 546 in WA

Measure	98226	Whatcom	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Self-employed workers	15.8%	12.8%	9.6%	10%	92nd	109th of 570
Median home value	$607,600	$585,800	$564,600	$332,700	82nd	140th of 536
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.2%	60.1%	49.9%	51.1%	81st	93rd of 541
Broadband access	95.2%	93.7%	93.6%	91%	78th	161st of 563
Residents 65 and older	20.8%	18.9%	16.6%	17.2%	78th	229th of 571
Population	46,782	230,503	7,816,116	334,922,499	77th	28th of 571
Median age	41.1	38.4	38.3	38.9	66th	277th of 571
Bachelor's degree or higher	39.7%	39.3%	39.6%	35.7%	65th	152nd of 571
Healthcare workers	10.5%	9.6%	9.3%	9.7%	65th	165th of 570
Per capita income	$45,504	$45,361	$53,744	$44,673	63rd	242nd of 570
Median gross rent	$1,620	$1,555	$1,760	$1,413	62nd	193rd of 475
Government workers	15.3%	15.7%	16%	14.5%	61st	340th of 570
Poverty rate	12%	12.9%	9.9%	12.5%	56th	200th of 563
Veterans	6.2%	6.3%	7.8%	6.2%	55th	411th of 571
Income inequality (Gini)	0.439	0.462	0.469	0.483	54th	210th of 560
Uninsured rate	7.2%	5.8%	6.3%	8.4%	53rd	195th of 567
Work from home	13.2%	14.8%	19.8%	15.1%	52nd	302nd of 570
Foreign-born residents	10.5%	9.9%	15.4%	14.1%	52nd	198th of 571
Median earnings per worker	$48,271	$48,317	$59,959	$49,666	50th	348th of 566
Median household income	$79,375	$81,784	$98,141	$80,734	49th	311th of 541
Tech workers	2.8%	2.9%	6.7%	3.8%	48th	274th of 570
Diversity index	46.8	40.9	56.5	61.4	46th	222nd of 571
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.8%	5.1%	5.2%	39th	326th of 570
Homeownership rate	62.4%	63.7%	63.8%	65.2%	36th	427th of 563
Population density	442/sq mi	109/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	31st	214th of 571
Housing vacancy	4.4%	9.2%	7.3%	10.1%	27th	423rd of 563
Residents under 18	16.6%	18.5%	21.4%	22%	13th	399th of 571
Average commuteStrength	19.2 min	21.6 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	10th	468th of 546

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

12%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

15%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

41.1

Under 18

16.6%

65 and over

20.8%

Race and ethnicity

White72%
Black1%
Hispanic9%
Asian6%
Native American4%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0.4%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

46.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

10.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

48.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

85%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 20,048
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 61.4%
Married couples: 49.3%
Living alone: 26.3%
Veterans (of adults): 6.2%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

14%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

10%

Median household income

98226

$79,375

Whatcom Co.

$81,784

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$45,504

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

20.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.439

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98226

$607,600

Whatcom Co.

$585,800

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98226

$1,620

Whatcom Co.

$1,555

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

63%

2–4 units

5–19 units

12%

20+ units

12%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 20,980
Owner-occupied: 62.4%
Vacant: 4.4%
Median year built: 1995
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 28.4%
Home value to income: 7.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

72%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

13%

Other

0.6%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

50%

20–29

19%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

19.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

10%

Construction and repair

Sales

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Education

Business and finance

Production

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Education

10%

Professional and technical services

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Retail

Manufacturing

Construction

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Arts and recreation

Information

Median earnings per worker

$48,271

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

15.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98226	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$66,581	$74,888
Service	$32,040	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,996	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,993	$49,199
Production and transportation	$48,435	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

21%

Some college

23%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

26%

Graduate

14%

High school graduate or higher: 94.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 39.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 14%
Households with broadband: 95.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 83.7%
No internet access: 2.5%
Without health insurance: 7.2%
Limited-English households: 1.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Bellingham
State: Washington
County: Whatcom County
Center point: 48.7967° N, 122.4324° W
Land area: 106 sq mi
Water area: 8.3 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Bellingham9% of zip
Marietta-Alderwood (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 98226

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98227	Bellingham, WA · PO box	3.6 mi	—	—	—
98228	Bellingham, WA · PO box	3.6 mi	—	—	—
98225	Bellingham, WA	4.3 mi	50,216	$63,941	$631,200
98229	Bellingham, WA	6.5 mi	33,298	$90,945	$633,500
98247	Everson, WA	8.8 mi	9,115	$88,724	$564,400
98248	Ferndale, WA	9.9 mi	28,498	$91,060	$589,600
98276	Nooksack, WA	10 mi	1,794	$97,159	$524,300
98264	Lynden, WA	11 mi	23,123	$103,638	$609,100
98262	Lummi Island, WA	13 mi	957	$83,000	$579,000
98220	Acme, WA	13 mi	541	$92,266	$368,800
98240	Custer, WA	14 mi	3,593	$110,116	$619,700
98232	Bow, WA	16 mi	4,054	$104,559	$782,200

Zip codes like 98226 elsewhere

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

Questions about 98226

What city is zip code 98226?

98226 is assigned to Bellingham, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98226 in?

98226 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

What is the population of 98226?

About 46,782 people live in 98226, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98226 in?

98226 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98226?

The median household income in 98226 is $79,375.

What zip codes are near 98226?

The closest zip codes to 98226 are 98227, 98228, 98225, 98229, 98247.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98226, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.