Zip code 98438: McChord Afb, Washington
Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.
About 98438
98438 is a suburban zip code in McChord Afb, Washington (Pierce County), covering 1 sq mi of land. About 613 people live here, or 637 per square mile. The median resident is 22.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.
53.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). 38% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.
44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 9.2 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; healthcare; and sales. 26% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.
How 98438 compares
- Poverty rate53.4%99thWeaknessU.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%4th of 563 in WA
- Broadband access100%99thStrengthU.S. 91% · WA 93.6%22nd of 563 in WA
- Veterans100%99thU.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%2nd of 571 in WA
- 99thWeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%11th of 541 in WA
- Healthcare workers28.6%99thU.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%9th of 570 in WA
- Government workers71.4%99thU.S. 14.5% · WA 16%7th of 570 in WA
- Diversity index62.778thU.S. 61.4 · WA 56.578th of 571 in WA
- 72ndU.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%124th of 571 in WA
- 64thU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469158th of 560 in WA
- Population density637/sq mi36thU.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi190th of 571 in WA
- 14thU.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%452nd of 571 in WA
- Per capita income$27,45513thWeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744512th of 570 in WA
- Homeownership rate37.9%8thWeaknessU.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%534th of 563 in WA
- Median earnings per worker$25,3132ndWeaknessU.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959551st of 566 in WA
- Population6131stU.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116462nd of 571 in WA
- Median age22.41stU.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3559th of 571 in WA
- Average commute9.2 min1stStrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min544th of 546 in WA
- 1stU.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%559th of 570 in WA
- 1stStrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%551st of 570 in WA
- 1stStrengthU.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%556th of 567 in WA
- 1stU.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%552nd of 563 in WA
- 1stU.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%563rd of 571 in WA
- 1stU.S. 22% · WA 21.4%562nd of 571 in WA
- 1stU.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%525th of 570 in WA
- 1stU.S. 10% · WA 9.6%561st of 570 in WA
| Measure | 98438 | Pierce | WA | U.S. | National percentile | Rank in WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rateWeakness | 53.4% | 8.8% | 9.9% | 12.5% | 4th of 563 | |
| Broadband accessStrength | 100% | 94.6% | 93.6% | 91% | 22nd of 563 | |
| Veterans | 100% | 10.9% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 2nd of 571 | |
| Rent-burdened rentersWeakness | 100% | 53% | 49.9% | 51.1% | 11th of 541 | |
| Healthcare workers | 28.6% | 10.1% | 9.3% | 9.7% | 9th of 570 | |
| Government workers | 71.4% | 18.3% | 16% | 14.5% | 7th of 570 | |
| Diversity index | 62.7 | 58.8 | 56.5 | 61.4 | 78th of 571 | |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 30.9% | 39.6% | 35.7% | 124th of 571 | |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 0.452 | 0.423 | 0.469 | 0.483 | 158th of 560 | |
| Population density | 637/sq mi | 558/sq mi | 118/sq mi | 95/sq mi | 190th of 571 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.4% | 10.9% | 15.4% | 14.1% | 452nd of 571 | |
| Per capita incomeWeakness | $27,455 | $47,648 | $53,744 | $44,673 | 512th of 570 | |
| Homeownership rateWeakness | 37.9% | 64.7% | 63.8% | 65.2% | 534th of 563 | |
| Median earnings per workerWeakness | $25,313 | $58,904 | $59,959 | $49,666 | 551st of 566 | |
| Population | 613 | 930,319 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 | 462nd of 571 | |
| Median age | 22.4 | 37 | 38.3 | 38.9 | 559th of 571 | |
| Average commuteStrength | 9.2 min | 31.3 min | 26.6 min | 26.4 min | 544th of 546 | |
| Work from home | 0% | 13.9% | 19.8% | 15.1% | 559th of 570 | |
| Unemployment rateStrength | 0% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 551st of 570 | |
| Uninsured rateStrength | 0% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 8.4% | 556th of 567 | |
| Housing vacancy | 0% | 5% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 552nd of 563 | |
| Residents 65 and older | 0% | 14.8% | 16.6% | 17.2% | 563rd of 571 | |
| Residents under 18 | 0% | 23% | 21.4% | 22% | 562nd of 571 | |
| Tech workers | 0% | 3.3% | 6.7% | 3.8% | 525th of 570 | |
| Self-employed workers | 0% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 10% | 561st of 570 |
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
Race and ethnicity
- White55%
- Black7%
- Hispanic24%
- Asian5%
- Native American3%
- Pacific Islander2%
- Other0%
- Multiracial4%
Language spoken at home (households)
Households
- Households
- 58
- Average household size
- —
- Family households
- 0%
- Married couples
- 0%
- Living alone
- 100%
- Veterans (of adults)
- 100%
- Male / female
- 85% / 15%
Income and poverty
Household income distribution
Median household income
Housing
Median home value
Median gross rent
Types of housing
- Housing units
- 58
- Owner-occupied
- 37.9%
- Vacant
- 0%
- Median year built
- 2004
- Median rooms
- 5.6
- Renters paying 30%+ of income
- 100%
- Renters paying 50%+ of income
- 0%
- Home value to income
- —
Work and commute
How people get to work
Commute time (one way)
Jobs and careers
Occupations
Industries
Median earnings by type of work
| Type of work | 98438 | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | — | $74,888 |
| Service | $25,833 | $26,804 |
| Sales and office | — | $40,476 |
| Construction and maintenance | — | $49,199 |
| Production and transportation | — | $39,989 |
Education, internet and health coverage
Highest education (adults 25+)
- High school graduate or higher
- 100%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44.3%
- Graduate or professional degree
- 33%
- Households with broadband
- 100%
- Cable, fiber or DSL
- 79.3%
- No internet access
- 0%
- Without health insurance
- 0%
- Limited-English households
- 0%
Geography
- City (USPS)
- McChord Afb
- State
- Washington
- County
- Pierce County
- Center point
- 47.1350° N, 122.4921° W
- Land area
- 1 sq mi
- Water area
- under 0.1 sq mi
- Time zone
- Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
- Zip type
- Residential delivery area
Cities and towns within this zip
- McChord AFB (unincorporated)100% of zip
Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.
Zip codes near 98438
| Zip | City | Distance | IncomeMedian income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98439 | Lakewood, WA | 0.6 mi | $50,509 |
| 98496 | Lakewood, WA · PO box | 2.3 mi | — |
| 98499 | Lakewood, WA | 2.3 mi | $67,292 |
| 98444 | Tacoma, WA | 2.4 mi | $65,342 |
| 98447 | Tacoma, WA | 2.4 mi | — |
| 98497 | Lakewood, WA · PO box | 2.8 mi | — |
| 98498 | Lakewood, WA | 3.5 mi | $91,664 |
| 98430 | Camp Murray, WA | 3.8 mi | — |
| 98445 | Tacoma, WA | 4.1 mi | $92,520 |
| 98408 | Tacoma, WA | 4.8 mi | $80,899 |
| 98417 | Tacoma, WA · PO box | 4.9 mi | — |
| 98419 | Tacoma, WA · PO box | 4.9 mi | — |
Questions about 98438
What city is zip code 98438?
98438 is assigned to McChord Afb, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.
What county is 98438 in?
98438 is in Pierce County, Washington.
What is the population of 98438?
About 613 people live in 98438, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What time zone is 98438 in?
98438 is in Pacific Time.
What zip codes are near 98438?
The closest zip codes to 98438 are 98439, 98496, 98499, 98444, 98447.
Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98438, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.