Zip code 98229: Bellingham, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98229?

98229 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 98229 in?

98229 is mostly in Whatcom County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 98229?

About 33,298 people live in 98229, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98229?

The median household income in 98229 is $90,945.

Q: What zip codes are near 98229?

The closest zip codes to 98229 are 98227, 98228, 98225, 98226, 98220.

Residential delivery areaWhatcom CountyPacific Time

Population

33,298

Median household income

$91K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$634K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,670/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

39.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

50 sq mi

664 people/sq mi

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

About 98229

98229 is a suburban zip code in Bellingham, Washington (Whatcom County), covering 50 sq mi of land. About 33,298 people live here, or 664 per square mile. The median resident is 39.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $90,945 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $633,500, or 7.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,670 a month.

53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.8 minutes each way, and 18% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and office and administrative support.

How 98229 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Broadband access97.4%
95th
StrengthU.S. 91% · WA 93.6%50th of 563 in WA
Rent-burdened renters62.6%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%64th of 541 in WA
Median home value$633,500
84th
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600121st of 536 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher53.1%
83rd
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%70th of 571 in WA
Self-employed workers12.2%
78th
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%187th of 570 in WA
Per capita income$51,213
74th
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744162nd of 570 in WA
Residents 65 and older20.1%
74th
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%252nd of 571 in WA
Work from home17.5%
70th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%191st of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers10.8%
69th
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%148th of 570 in WA
Government workers16.6%
69th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%304th of 570 in WA
Median gross rent$1,670
66th
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760174th of 475 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.454
65th
U.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469153rd of 560 in WA
Median earnings per worker$53,340
64th
U.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959273rd of 566 in WA
Median household income$90,945
63rd
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141234th of 541 in WA
Tech workers3.4%
60th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%215th of 570 in WA
Veterans6.3%
57th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%408th of 571 in WA
Population33,298
56th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,11683rd of 571 in WA
Unemployment rate5.1%
54th
U.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%247th of 570 in WA
Homeownership rate69.7%
53rd
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%341st of 563 in WA
Median age39.1
50th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3347th of 571 in WA
Foreign-born residents8.5%
45th
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%245th of 571 in WA
Housing vacancy5.7%
41st
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%354th of 563 in WA
Poverty rate9%
38th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%312th of 563 in WA
Population density664/sq mi
37th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi188th of 571 in WA
Diversity index39.4
35th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5293rd of 571 in WA
Residents under 1818.7%
23rd
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%348th of 571 in WA
Uninsured rate4%
22nd
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%398th of 567 in WA
Average commute20.8 min
16th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min433rd of 546 in WA

Measure	98229	Whatcom	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Broadband accessStrength	97.4%	93.7%	93.6%	91%	95th	50th of 563
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	62.6%	60.1%	49.9%	51.1%	89th	64th of 541
Median home value	$633,500	$585,800	$564,600	$332,700	84th	121st of 536
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	53.1%	39.3%	39.6%	35.7%	83rd	70th of 571
Self-employed workers	12.2%	12.8%	9.6%	10%	78th	187th of 570
Per capita income	$51,213	$45,361	$53,744	$44,673	74th	162nd of 570
Residents 65 and older	20.1%	18.9%	16.6%	17.2%	74th	252nd of 571
Work from home	17.5%	14.8%	19.8%	15.1%	70th	191st of 570
Healthcare workers	10.8%	9.6%	9.3%	9.7%	69th	148th of 570
Government workers	16.6%	15.7%	16%	14.5%	69th	304th of 570
Median gross rent	$1,670	$1,555	$1,760	$1,413	66th	174th of 475
Income inequality (Gini)	0.454	0.462	0.469	0.483	65th	153rd of 560
Median earnings per worker	$53,340	$48,317	$59,959	$49,666	64th	273rd of 566
Median household income	$90,945	$81,784	$98,141	$80,734	63rd	234th of 541
Tech workers	3.4%	2.9%	6.7%	3.8%	60th	215th of 570
Veterans	6.3%	6.3%	7.8%	6.2%	57th	408th of 571
Population	33,298	230,503	7,816,116	334,922,499	56th	83rd of 571
Unemployment rate	5.1%	4.8%	5.1%	5.2%	54th	247th of 570
Homeownership rate	69.7%	63.7%	63.8%	65.2%	53rd	341st of 563
Median age	39.1	38.4	38.3	38.9	50th	347th of 571
Foreign-born residents	8.5%	9.9%	15.4%	14.1%	45th	245th of 571
Housing vacancy	5.7%	9.2%	7.3%	10.1%	41st	354th of 563
Poverty rate	9%	12.9%	9.9%	12.5%	38th	312th of 563
Population density	664/sq mi	109/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	37th	188th of 571
Diversity index	39.4	40.9	56.5	61.4	35th	293rd of 571
Residents under 18	18.7%	18.5%	21.4%	22%	23rd	348th of 571
Uninsured rate	4%	5.8%	6.3%	8.4%	22nd	398th of 567
Average commuteStrength	20.8 min	21.6 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	16th	433rd 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

14%

5–17

13%

18–24

13%

25–34

13%

35–44

11%

45–54

11%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

39.1

Under 18

18.7%

65 and over

20.1%

Race and ethnicity

White77%
Black0.8%
Hispanic10%
Asian4%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0.4%
Multiracial8%

Diversity index

39.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

47.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.8%

Households

Households: 13,712
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 61%
Married couples: 50%
Living alone: 24.6%
Veterans (of adults): 6.3%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

19%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

17%

Median household income

98229

$90,945

Whatcom Co.

$81,784

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$51,213

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

27.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.454

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98229

$633,500

Whatcom Co.

$585,800

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98229

$1,670

Whatcom Co.

$1,555

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

10%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.6%

Housing units: 14,543
Owner-occupied: 69.7%
Vacant: 5.7%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 62.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 26.3%
Home value to income: 7.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

67%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

17%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

17%

10–19

41%

20–29

18%

30–44

16%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

13%

Healthcare

11%

Office and admin

10%

Education

Food service

Sales

Business and finance

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Production

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

14%

Education

13%

Retail

11%

Professional and technical services

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Construction

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$53,340

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98229	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$75,660	$74,888
Service	$22,212	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,931	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$56,087	$49,199
Production and transportation	$38,400	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

20%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

30%

Graduate

23%

High school graduate or higher: 95.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 53.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 23.4%
Households with broadband: 97.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 86.7%
No internet access: 1.3%
Without health insurance: 4%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Bellingham
State: Washington
County: Whatcom County
Center point: 48.7060° N, 122.3983° W
Land area: 50 sq mi
Water area: 5 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

98229 spans 2 counties

Whatcom County95% of land
Skagit County5% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Bellingham17% of zip
Sudden Valley (unincorporated)9% of zip
Geneva (unincorporated)3% of zip
Alger (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 98229

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98227	Bellingham, WA · PO box	5.5 mi	—	—	—
98228	Bellingham, WA · PO box	5.5 mi	—	—	—
98225	Bellingham, WA	6.1 mi	50,216	$63,941	$631,200
98226	Bellingham, WA	6.5 mi	46,782	$79,375	$607,600
98220	Acme, WA	9.4 mi	541	$92,266	$368,800
98232	Bow, WA	9.8 mi	4,054	$104,559	$782,200
98262	Lummi Island, WA	13 mi	957	$83,000	$579,000
98247	Everson, WA	14 mi	9,115	$88,724	$564,400
98233	Burlington, WA	14 mi	17,850	$87,614	$502,100
98248	Ferndale, WA	15 mi	28,498	$91,060	$589,600
98276	Nooksack, WA	16 mi	1,794	$97,159	$524,300
98284	Sedro Woolley, WA	16 mi	27,835	$93,006	$482,500

Zip codes like 98229 elsewhere

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

Questions about 98229

What city is zip code 98229?

98229 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 98229 in?

98229 is mostly in Whatcom County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 98229?

About 33,298 people live in 98229, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98229 in?

98229 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98229?

The median household income in 98229 is $90,945.

What zip codes are near 98229?

The closest zip codes to 98229 are 98227, 98228, 98225, 98226, 98220.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98229, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.