Zip code 98281: Point Roberts, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98281?

98281 is assigned to Point Roberts, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98281 in?

98281 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98281?

About 1,288 people live in 98281, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98281?

The median household income in 98281 is $78,125.

Q: What zip codes are near 98281?

The closest zip codes to 98281 are 98231, 98230, 98297, 98240, 98248.

Residential delivery areaWhatcom CountyPacific Time

Population

1,288

Median household income

$78K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$484K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,095/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

58.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

4.9 sq mi

264 people/sq mi

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

About 98281

98281 is a small-town zip code in Point Roberts, Washington (Whatcom County), covering 4.9 sq mi of land. About 1,288 people live here, or 264 per square mile. The median resident is 58.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $78,125 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 14.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $483,900, or 6.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 86% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,095 a month.

45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 32.5 minutes each way, and 48% of workers work from home; working from home is more common than any single way of commuting. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; arts, media and sports; and business and finance. 26% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 98281 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age58.2
99th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.358th of 571 in WA
Work from home47.6%
99th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%4th of 570 in WA
Housing vacancy64.7%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%10th of 563 in WA
Self-employed workers26.3%
99th
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%31st of 570 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.606
99th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.4694th of 560 in WA
Residents 65 and older31.8%
97th
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%85th of 571 in WA
Per capita income$85,419
96th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · WA $53,74438th of 570 in WA
Foreign-born residents42.8%
96th
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%6th of 571 in WA
Tech workers9.6%
96th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%51st of 570 in WA
Homeownership rate86.3%
91st
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%104th of 563 in WA
Broadband access96.8%
91st
StrengthU.S. 91% · WA 93.6%71st of 563 in WA
Median earnings per worker$68,547
86th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959106th of 566 in WA
Average commute32.5 min
85th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min112th of 546 in WA
Median home value$483,900
73rd
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600234th of 536 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher44.7%
72nd
U.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%122nd of 571 in WA
Rent-burdened renters55.9%
70th
U.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%128th of 541 in WA
Poverty rate14.9%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%133rd of 563 in WA
Veterans6.1%
54th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%421st of 571 in WA
Median household income$78,125
48th
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141327th of 541 in WA
Uninsured rate5.4%
37th
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%308th of 567 in WA
Median gross rent$1,095
28th
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760332nd of 475 in WA
Diversity index33.2
27th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5356th of 571 in WA
Population density264/sq mi
24th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi249th of 571 in WA
Government workers10.1%
19th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%498th of 570 in WA
Unemployment rate2.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%461st of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers4.7%
3rd
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%459th of 570 in WA
Population1,288
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116400th of 571 in WA
Residents under 187.5%
1st
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%527th of 571 in WA

Measure	98281	Whatcom	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Median age	58.2	38.4	38.3	38.9	99th	58th of 571
Work from home	47.6%	14.8%	19.8%	15.1%	99th	4th of 570
Housing vacancy	64.7%	9.2%	7.3%	10.1%	99th	10th of 563
Self-employed workers	26.3%	12.8%	9.6%	10%	99th	31st of 570
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.606	0.462	0.469	0.483	99th	4th of 560
Residents 65 and older	31.8%	18.9%	16.6%	17.2%	97th	85th of 571
Per capita incomeStrength	$85,419	$45,361	$53,744	$44,673	96th	38th of 570
Foreign-born residents	42.8%	9.9%	15.4%	14.1%	96th	6th of 571
Tech workers	9.6%	2.9%	6.7%	3.8%	96th	51st of 570
Homeownership rateStrength	86.3%	63.7%	63.8%	65.2%	91st	104th of 563
Broadband accessStrength	96.8%	93.7%	93.6%	91%	91st	71st of 563
Median earnings per workerStrength	$68,547	$48,317	$59,959	$49,666	86th	106th of 566
Average commuteWeakness	32.5 min	21.6 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	85th	112th of 546
Median home value	$483,900	$585,800	$564,600	$332,700	73rd	234th of 536
Bachelor's degree or higher	44.7%	39.3%	39.6%	35.7%	72nd	122nd of 571
Rent-burdened renters	55.9%	60.1%	49.9%	51.1%	70th	128th of 541
Poverty rate	14.9%	12.9%	9.9%	12.5%	69th	133rd of 563
Veterans	6.1%	6.3%	7.8%	6.2%	54th	421st of 571
Median household income	$78,125	$81,784	$98,141	$80,734	48th	327th of 541
Uninsured rate	5.4%	5.8%	6.3%	8.4%	37th	308th of 567
Median gross rent	$1,095	$1,555	$1,760	$1,413	28th	332nd of 475
Diversity index	33.2	40.9	56.5	61.4	27th	356th of 571
Population density	264/sq mi	109/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	24th	249th of 571
Government workers	10.1%	15.7%	16%	14.5%	19th	498th of 570
Unemployment rateStrength	2.4%	4.8%	5.1%	5.2%	9th	461st of 570
Healthcare workers	4.7%	9.6%	9.3%	9.7%	3rd	459th of 570
Population	1,288	230,503	7,816,116	334,922,499	2nd	400th of 571
Residents under 18	7.5%	18.5%	21.4%	22%	1st	527th 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

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

12%

45–54

26%

55–64

19%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

58.2

Under 18

7.5%

65 and over

31.8%

Race and ethnicity

White81%
Black0%
Hispanic5%
Asian8%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

33.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

42.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

12.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

89%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 743
Average household size: 1.7
Family households: 45.5%
Married couples: 40.8%
Living alone: 51.1%
Veterans (of adults): 6.1%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

$200k+

22%

Median household income

98281

$78,125

Whatcom Co.

$81,784

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$85,419

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

27.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.606

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98281

$483,900

Whatcom Co.

$585,800

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98281

$1,095

Whatcom Co.

$1,555

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

90%

2–4 units

0.3%

5–19 units

20+ units

0.3%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,105
Owner-occupied: 86.3%
Vacant: 64.7%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 4.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 55.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 37.3%
Home value to income: 6.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

35%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

48%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

36%

10–19

18%

20–29

30–44

19%

45–59

60+

13%

Average commute

32.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Arts, media and sports

14%

Business and finance

11%

Computer and math

10%

Office and admin

Sales

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Food service

Construction and repair

Education

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

0.5%

Industries

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

15%

Arts and recreation

12%

Retail

10%

Professional and technical services

10%

Manufacturing

Construction

Health care and social assistance

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Information

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$68,547

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

26.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.1%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98281	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$81,500	$74,888
Service	$16,944	$26,804
Sales and office	$15,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$29,464	$49,199
Production and transportation	$250,000+	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

19%

Some college

25%

Associate's

Bachelor's

27%

Graduate

18%

High school graduate or higher: 97%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 17.8%
Households with broadband: 96.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 85.6%
No internet access: 2.2%
Without health insurance: 5.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Point Roberts
State: Washington
County: Whatcom County
Center point: 48.9847° N, 123.0595° W
Land area: 4.9 sq mi
Water area: 0.4 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Point Roberts (unincorporated)100% of zip

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

Zip codes near 98281

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98231	Blaine, WA · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
98230	Blaine, WA	16 mi	18,744	$86,623	$499,800
98297	Waldron, WA	20 mi	47	$45,625	$405,600
98240	Custer, WA	20 mi	3,593	$110,116	$619,700
98248	Ferndale, WA	21 mi	28,498	$91,060	$589,600
98245	Eastsound, WA	23 mi	4,265	$95,811	$772,600
98243	Deer Harbor, WA	26 mi	327	$139,167	$1,094,800
98262	Lummi Island, WA	26 mi	957	$83,000	$579,000
98279	Olga, WA	26 mi	680	$70,417	$937,500
98280	Orcas, WA	28 mi	442	$80,192	$1,031,300
98286	Shaw Island, WA	29 mi	155	$74,250	$675,000
98225	Bellingham, WA	30 mi	50,216	$63,941	$631,200

Zip codes like 98281 elsewhere

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

Questions about 98281

What city is zip code 98281?

98281 is assigned to Point Roberts, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98281 in?

98281 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

What is the population of 98281?

About 1,288 people live in 98281, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98281 in?

98281 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98281?

The median household income in 98281 is $78,125.

What zip codes are near 98281?

The closest zip codes to 98281 are 98231, 98230, 98297, 98240, 98248.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98281, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.