Zip code 98542: Ethel, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98542?

98542 is assigned to Ethel, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98542 in?

98542 is in Lewis County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98542?

About 625 people live in 98542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98542?

The median household income in 98542 is $52,963.

Q: What zip codes are near 98542?

The closest zip codes to 98542 are 98582, 98591, 98570, 98565, 98596.

Residential delivery areaLewis CountyPacific Time

Population

625

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$372K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

11 sq mi

57 people/sq mi

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

About 98542

98542 is a small-town zip code in Ethel, Washington (Lewis County), covering 11 sq mi of land. About 625 people live here, or 57 per square mile. The median resident is 40.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,963 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 19.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $372,300, or 7.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 25.6 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; cleaning and personal care; and construction and repair.

How 98542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters72.7%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%33rd of 541 in WA
Residents 65 and older25.8%
93rd
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%148th of 571 in WA
Uninsured rate17%
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%45th of 567 in WA
Poverty rate19.2%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%75th of 563 in WA
Homeownership rate76.1%
69th
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%264th of 563 in WA
Median age40.7
63rd
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3287th of 571 in WA
Median home value$372,300
58th
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600366th of 536 in WA
Government workers14.3%
55th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%382nd of 570 in WA
Average commute25.6 min
47th
U.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min300th of 546 in WA
Broadband access90.9%
40th
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%353rd of 563 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.413
31st
U.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469311th of 560 in WA
Median household income$52,963
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141502nd of 541 in WA
Population density57/sq mi
8th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi349th of 571 in WA
Per capita income$22,552
5th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744545th of 570 in WA
Work from home3.6%
4th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%512th of 570 in WA
Diversity index8
3rd
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5550th of 571 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher9.9%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%536th of 571 in WA
Veterans1.2%
2nd
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%554th of 571 in WA
Residents under 188.3%
2nd
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%518th of 571 in WA
Median earnings per worker$29,375
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959543rd of 566 in WA
Population625
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116460th of 571 in WA
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%536th of 570 in WA
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%544th of 571 in WA
Housing vacancy0%
1st
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%549th of 563 in WA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%489th of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers0%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%541st of 570 in WA
Self-employed workers0%
1st
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%555th of 570 in WA

Measure	98542	Lewis	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	72.7%	50.1%	49.9%	51.1%	98th	33rd of 541
Residents 65 and older	25.8%	21.4%	16.6%	17.2%	93rd	148th of 571
Uninsured rateWeakness	17%	6.3%	6.3%	8.4%	92nd	45th of 567
Poverty rateWeakness	19.2%	12.2%	9.9%	12.5%	83rd	75th of 563
Homeownership rate	76.1%	75.8%	63.8%	65.2%	69th	264th of 563
Median age	40.7	42.2	38.3	38.9	63rd	287th of 571
Median home value	$372,300	$385,800	$564,600	$332,700	58th	366th of 536
Government workers	14.3%	19.5%	16%	14.5%	55th	382nd of 570
Average commute	25.6 min	28.5 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	47th	300th of 546
Broadband access	90.9%	87.9%	93.6%	91%	40th	353rd of 563
Income inequality (Gini)	0.413	0.424	0.469	0.483	31st	311th of 560
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,963	$74,796	$98,141	$80,734	12th	502nd of 541
Population density	57/sq mi	35/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	8th	349th of 571
Per capita incomeWeakness	$22,552	$36,049	$53,744	$44,673	5th	545th of 570
Work from home	3.6%	9.7%	19.8%	15.1%	4th	512th of 570
Diversity index	8	34.6	56.5	61.4	3rd	550th of 571
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	9.9%	21.5%	39.6%	35.7%	2nd	536th of 571
Veterans	1.2%	9.4%	7.8%	6.2%	2nd	554th of 571
Residents under 18	8.3%	21.6%	21.4%	22%	2nd	518th of 571
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$29,375	$47,439	$59,959	$49,666	2nd	543rd of 566
Population	625	85,154	7,816,116	334,922,499	1st	460th of 571
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	5.3%	5.1%	5.2%	1st	536th of 570
Foreign-born residents	0%	5.3%	15.4%	14.1%	1st	544th of 571
Housing vacancy	0%	9.8%	7.3%	10.1%	1st	549th of 563
Tech workers	0%	1.8%	6.7%	3.8%	1st	489th of 570
Healthcare workers	0%	9%	9.3%	9.7%	1st	541st of 570
Self-employed workers	0%	9.6%	9.6%	10%	1st	555th 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

Under 5

5–17

35%

18–24

25–34

35–44

21%

45–54

55–64

13%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

40.7

Under 18

8.3%

65 and over

25.8%

Race and ethnicity

White96%
Black0%
Hispanic4%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

65.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 230
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 73.5%
Married couples: 73.5%
Living alone: 20%
Veterans (of adults): 1.2%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

42%

$25–50k

$50–75k

22%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

98542

$52,963

Lewis Co.

$74,796

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$22,552

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

19.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.413

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98542

$372,300

Lewis Co.

$385,800

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98542

—

Lewis Co.

$1,097

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

20%

Boat, RV, van

12%

Housing units: 230
Owner-occupied: 76.1%
Vacant: 0%
Median year built: 2004
Median rooms: 4.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 72.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 7.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

62%

Carpooled

17%

Transit

Walked

13%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

19%

10–19

14%

20–29

18%

30–44

25%

45–59

24%

60+

Average commute

25.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

28%

Cleaning and personal care

19%

Construction and repair

15%

Farming, fishing and forestry

12%

Sales

Production

Office and admin

Management

Transportation and moving

Food service

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Healthcare

Police and fire

Industries

Health care and social assistance

22%

Admin, support and management

15%

Agriculture and mining

15%

Manufacturing

13%

Education

11%

Retail

Construction

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$29,375

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$31,007	$74,888
Service	$27,837	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$35,662	$49,199
Production and transportation	$69,313	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

43%

Some college

25%

Associate's

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 9.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 0%
Households with broadband: 90.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 27.4%
No internet access: 9.1%
Without health insurance: 17%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Ethel
State: Washington
County: Lewis County
Center point: 46.5330° N, 122.7254° W
Land area: 11 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 98542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98582	Salkum, WA	4.8 mi	438	$89,387	$346,100
98591	Toledo, WA	6.4 mi	3,965	$78,952	$471,100
98570	Onalaska, WA	7.6 mi	5,319	$95,795	$428,200
98565	Napavine, WA	9.2 mi	568	$73,750	$298,900
98596	Winlock, WA	11 mi	6,950	$80,188	$415,600
98585	Silver Creek, WA	14 mi	465	$74,167	$411,700
98645	Silverlake, WA	14 mi	2,216	$101,429	$509,500
98564	Mossyrock, WA	16 mi	3,382	$60,147	$323,500
98593	Vader, WA	16 mi	1,541	$84,244	$343,800
98531	Centralia, WA	17 mi	27,337	$63,406	$343,000
98532	Chehalis, WA	17 mi	27,135	$89,910	$427,100
98522	Adna, WA · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—

Questions about 98542

What city is zip code 98542?

98542 is assigned to Ethel, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98542 in?

98542 is in Lewis County, Washington.

What is the population of 98542?

About 625 people live in 98542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98542 in?

98542 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98542?

The median household income in 98542 is $52,963.

What zip codes are near 98542?

The closest zip codes to 98542 are 98582, 98591, 98570, 98565, 98596.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.