Zip code 98261: Lopez Island, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98261?

98261 is assigned to Lopez Island, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98261 in?

98261 is in San Juan County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98261?

About 2,984 people live in 98261, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98261?

The median household income in 98261 is $80,119.

Q: What zip codes are near 98261?

The closest zip codes to 98261 are 98222, 98286, 98280, 98250, 98243.

Residential delivery areaSan Juan CountyPacific Time

Population

2,984

Median household income

$80K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$788K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,168/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

62.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

30 sq mi

100 people/sq mi

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

About 98261

98261 is a small-town zip code in Lopez Island, Washington (San Juan County), covering 30 sq mi of land. About 2,984 people live here, or 100 per square mile. The median resident is 62.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $80,119 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 14.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $787,800, or 9.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 81% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,168 a month.

60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18 minutes each way, and 23% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and healthcare. 33% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 98261 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age62.2
99th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.327th of 571 in WA
Housing vacancy39.2%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%44th of 563 in WA
Residents 65 and older43.1%
99th
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%30th of 571 in WA
Self-employed workers32.5%
99th
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%18th of 570 in WA
Median home value$787,800
90th
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,60067th of 536 in WA
Veterans10%
90th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%208th of 571 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher59.6%
89th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%59th of 571 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.499
88th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.46951st of 560 in WA
Work from home23.3%
85th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%131st of 570 in WA
Homeownership rate80.6%
80th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%196th of 563 in WA
Per capita income$50,406
73rd
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744173rd of 570 in WA
Poverty rate14.8%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%137th of 563 in WA
Government workers16.6%
69th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%302nd of 570 in WA
Median household income$80,119
50th
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141307th of 541 in WA
Broadband access92.2%
50th
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%303rd of 563 in WA
Tech workers2.8%
48th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%271st of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers9.2%
46th
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%242nd of 570 in WA
Uninsured rate6.2%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%246th of 567 in WA
Rent-burdened renters49%
43rd
U.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%243rd of 541 in WA
Foreign-born residents7.4%
40th
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%275th of 571 in WA
Median gross rent$1,168
34th
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760306th of 475 in WA
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%359th of 570 in WA
Median earnings per worker$41,038
24th
U.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959458th of 566 in WA
Diversity index22.1
15th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5480th of 571 in WA
Population density100/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi317th of 571 in WA
Average commute18 min
6th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min482nd of 546 in WA
Population2,984
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116336th of 571 in WA
Residents under 1811.5%
3rd
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%487th of 571 in WA

Measure	98261	San Juan	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Median age	62.2	57	38.3	38.9	99th	27th of 571
Housing vacancy	39.2%	35.6%	7.3%	10.1%	99th	44th of 563
Residents 65 and older	43.1%	36%	16.6%	17.2%	99th	30th of 571
Self-employed workers	32.5%	30%	9.6%	10%	99th	18th of 570
Median home value	$787,800	$799,200	$564,600	$332,700	90th	67th of 536
Veterans	10%	7.5%	7.8%	6.2%	90th	208th of 571
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	59.6%	53.9%	39.6%	35.7%	89th	59th of 571
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.499	0.532	0.469	0.483	88th	51st of 560
Work from home	23.3%	22.7%	19.8%	15.1%	85th	131st of 570
Homeownership rateStrength	80.6%	78%	63.8%	65.2%	80th	196th of 563
Per capita income	$50,406	$63,950	$53,744	$44,673	73rd	173rd of 570
Poverty rate	14.8%	11.3%	9.9%	12.5%	69th	137th of 563
Government workers	16.6%	13.9%	16%	14.5%	69th	302nd of 570
Median household income	$80,119	$84,800	$98,141	$80,734	50th	307th of 541
Broadband access	92.2%	93.8%	93.6%	91%	50th	303rd of 563
Tech workers	2.8%	2.6%	6.7%	3.8%	48th	271st of 570
Healthcare workers	9.2%	6%	9.3%	9.7%	46th	242nd of 570
Uninsured rate	6.2%	6%	6.3%	8.4%	44th	246th of 567
Rent-burdened renters	49%	44.6%	49.9%	51.1%	43rd	243rd of 541
Foreign-born residents	7.4%	7%	15.4%	14.1%	40th	275th of 571
Median gross rent	$1,168	$1,512	$1,760	$1,413	34th	306th of 475
Unemployment rate	4%	3.7%	5.1%	5.2%	34th	359th of 570
Median earnings per worker	$41,038	$48,408	$59,959	$49,666	24th	458th of 566
Diversity index	22.1	26.6	56.5	61.4	15th	480th of 571
Population density	100/sq mi	106/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	317th of 571
Average commuteStrength	18 min	15.8 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	6th	482nd of 546
Population	2,984	18,478	7,816,116	334,922,499	5th	336th of 571
Residents under 18	11.5%	12.6%	21.4%	22%	3rd	487th of 571

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

10%

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

10%

45–54

16%

55–64

25%

65–74

18%

75+

Median age

62.2

Under 18

11.5%

65 and over

43.1%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black0.5%
Hispanic5%
Asian1%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.9%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

22.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

7.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

35.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,468
Average household size: 2
Family households: 61.8%
Married couples: 50.6%
Living alone: 31.9%
Veterans (of adults): 10%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

15%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

10%

Median household income

98261

$80,119

San Juan Co.

$84,800

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$50,406

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

19.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.499

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98261

$787,800

San Juan Co.

$799,200

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98261

$1,168

San Juan Co.

$1,512

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

93%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.4%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,415
Owner-occupied: 80.6%
Vacant: 39.2%
Median year built: 1985
Median rooms: 4.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 49%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 39.5%
Home value to income: 9.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

64%

Carpooled

Transit

0.7%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

23%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

35%

10–19

47%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

18 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

45.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

18%

Construction and repair

11%

Healthcare

Education

Sales

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Office and admin

Food service

Business and finance

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Construction

17%

Professional and technical services

13%

Retail

10%

Health care and social assistance

Education

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Agriculture and mining

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Information

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$41,038

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

32.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98261	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$49,236	$74,888
Service	$40,119	$26,804
Sales and office	$30,000	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,500	$49,199
Production and transportation	$25,375	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

11%

Some college

20%

Associate's

Bachelor's

31%

Graduate

29%

High school graduate or higher: 97.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 59.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 28.9%
Households with broadband: 92.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 71%
No internet access: 5.2%
Without health insurance: 6.2%
Limited-English households: 0.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Lopez Island
State: Washington
County: San Juan County
Center point: 48.4825° N, 122.8840° W
Land area: 30 sq mi
Water area: 25 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 98261

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98222	Blakely Island, WA	6.8 mi	121	$106,333	$801,500
98286	Shaw Island, WA	6.8 mi	155	$74,250	$675,000
98280	Orcas, WA	7.9 mi	442	$80,192	$1,031,300
98250	Friday Harbor, WA	11 mi	9,254	$88,556	$801,200
98243	Deer Harbor, WA	11 mi	327	$139,167	$1,094,800
98279	Olga, WA	11 mi	680	$70,417	$937,500
98221	Anacortes, WA	13 mi	23,562	$96,528	$713,100
98245	Eastsound, WA	13 mi	4,265	$95,811	$772,600
98278	Oak Harbor, WA	14 mi	1,932	—	—
98277	Oak Harbor, WA	16 mi	40,917	$83,253	$499,600
98297	Waldron, WA	17 mi	47	$45,625	$405,600
98262	Lummi Island, WA	18 mi	957	$83,000	$579,000

Zip codes like 98261 elsewhere

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

Questions about 98261

What city is zip code 98261?

98261 is assigned to Lopez Island, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98261 in?

98261 is in San Juan County, Washington.

What is the population of 98261?

About 2,984 people live in 98261, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98261 in?

98261 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98261?

The median household income in 98261 is $80,119.

What zip codes are near 98261?

The closest zip codes to 98261 are 98222, 98286, 98280, 98250, 98243.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98261, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.