Zip code 98603: Ariel, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98603?

98603 is assigned to Ariel, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98603 in?

98603 is in Cowlitz County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98603?

About 1,267 people live in 98603, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98603?

The median household income in 98603 is $78,281.

Q: What zip codes are near 98603?

The closest zip codes to 98603 are 98601, 98625, 98616, 98675, 98674.

Residential delivery areaCowlitz CountyPacific Time

Population

1,267

Median household income

$78K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$465K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

115 sq mi

11 people/sq mi

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

About 98603

98603 is a rural zip code in Ariel, Washington (Cowlitz County), covering 115 sq mi of land. About 1,267 people live here, or 11 per square mile. The median resident is 41.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $78,281 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 15% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $464,500, or 5.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 48 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; management; and food service.

How 98603 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute48 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min13th of 546 in WA
Housing vacancy35.8%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%48th of 563 in WA
Residents under 1833.9%
99th
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%15th of 571 in WA
Government workers25.1%
95th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%142nd of 570 in WA
Veterans9.5%
87th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%218th of 571 in WA
Residents 65 and older21.9%
83rd
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%208th of 571 in WA
Median home value$464,500
71st
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600255th of 536 in WA
Poverty rate15%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%128th of 563 in WA
Median age41.3
67th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3266th of 571 in WA
Broadband access93.9%
65th
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%227th of 563 in WA
Homeownership rate72.9%
61st
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%306th of 563 in WA
Work from home13.3%
53rd
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%295th of 570 in WA
Median household income$78,281
48th
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141326th of 541 in WA
Foreign-born residents5.7%
33rd
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%321st of 571 in WA
Diversity index21.1
14th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5484th of 571 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher15.9%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%476th of 571 in WA
Per capita income$25,673
9th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744532nd of 570 in WA
Median earnings per worker$32,191
5th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959533rd of 566 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.367
5th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469456th of 560 in WA
Population1,267
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116401st of 571 in WA
Self-employed workers4.3%
2nd
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%504th of 570 in WA
Population density11/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi456th of 571 in WA
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%513th of 570 in WA
Uninsured rate0.6%
1st
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%534th of 567 in WA
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%511th of 541 in WA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%446th of 570 in WA
Healthcare workers1.9%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%510th of 570 in WA

Measure	98603	Cowlitz	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Average commuteWeakness	48 min	26.1 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	99th	13th of 546
Housing vacancy	35.8%	5.3%	7.3%	10.1%	99th	48th of 563
Residents under 18	33.9%	22.5%	21.4%	22%	99th	15th of 571
Government workers	25.1%	15%	16%	14.5%	95th	142nd of 570
Veterans	9.5%	10.3%	7.8%	6.2%	87th	218th of 571
Residents 65 and older	21.9%	19.8%	16.6%	17.2%	83rd	208th of 571
Median home value	$464,500	$397,500	$564,600	$332,700	71st	255th of 536
Poverty rate	15%	12.2%	9.9%	12.5%	69th	128th of 563
Median age	41.3	41.5	38.3	38.9	67th	266th of 571
Broadband access	93.9%	91%	93.6%	91%	65th	227th of 563
Homeownership rate	72.9%	68%	63.8%	65.2%	61st	306th of 563
Work from home	13.3%	8.2%	19.8%	15.1%	53rd	295th of 570
Median household income	$78,281	$76,531	$98,141	$80,734	48th	326th of 541
Foreign-born residents	5.7%	4.3%	15.4%	14.1%	33rd	321st of 571
Diversity index	21.1	35.1	56.5	61.4	14th	484th of 571
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	15.9%	17.6%	39.6%	35.7%	11th	476th of 571
Per capita incomeWeakness	$25,673	$38,105	$53,744	$44,673	9th	532nd of 570
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$32,191	$49,992	$59,959	$49,666	5th	533rd of 566
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.367	0.425	0.469	0.483	5th	456th of 560
Population	1,267	112,360	7,816,116	334,922,499	2nd	401st of 571
Self-employed workers	4.3%	9.9%	9.6%	10%	2nd	504th of 570
Population density	11/sq mi	99/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	456th of 571
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	5.9%	5.1%	5.2%	1st	513th of 570
Uninsured rateStrength	0.6%	6.2%	6.3%	8.4%	1st	534th of 567
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	49.3%	49.9%	51.1%	1st	511th of 541
Tech workers	0%	1.7%	6.7%	3.8%	1st	446th of 570
Healthcare workers	1.9%	10.2%	9.3%	9.7%	1st	510th 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

26%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

14%

65–74

75+

Median age

41.3

Under 18

33.9%

65 and over

21.9%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black0%
Hispanic6%
Asian0%
Native American0.4%
Pacific Islander0%
Other5%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

21.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

29.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 395
Average household size: 3.2
Family households: 62.3%
Married couples: 48.6%
Living alone: 15.9%
Veterans (of adults): 9.5%
Male / female: 42% / 58%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

22%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

98603

$78,281

Cowlitz Co.

$76,531

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$25,673

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.367

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98603

$464,500

Cowlitz Co.

$397,500

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98603

—

Cowlitz Co.

$1,206

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

92%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 615
Owner-occupied: 72.9%
Vacant: 35.8%
Median year built: 2002
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 5.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

87%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

20–29

30–44

45–59

36%

60+

31%

Average commute

48 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

47.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

31%

Management

20%

Food service

17%

Education

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Office and admin

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Sales

0.2%

Computer and math

Police and fire

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

34%

Construction

24%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

12%

Education

Health care and social assistance

Professional and technical services

Manufacturing

Agriculture and mining

Retail

Admin, support and management

Other services

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$32,191

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

4.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

25.1%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

1.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98603	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$32,483	$74,888
Service	$4,085	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$49,697	$49,199
Production and transportation	$78,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

36%

Some college

34%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.8%
Households with broadband: 93.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.2%
No internet access: 4.6%
Without health insurance: 0.6%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Ariel
State: Washington
County: Cowlitz County
Center point: 46.0555° N, 122.4148° W
Land area: 115 sq mi
Water area: 2.9 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 98603

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98601	Amboy, WA	8.2 mi	2,585	$106,776	$515,000
98625	Kalama, WA	8.4 mi	7,655	$116,435	$513,200
98616	Cougar, WA	11 mi	192	—	—
98675	Yacolt, WA	13 mi	7,305	$99,877	$560,800
98674	Woodland, WA	14 mi	17,525	$94,245	$538,000
98629	La Center, WA	16 mi	9,076	$106,779	$611,200
98622	Heisson, WA · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
98604	Battle Ground, WA	18 mi	38,839	$112,448	$589,800
98649	Toutle, WA	19 mi	929	$73,750	$393,800
98626	Kelso, WA	19 mi	26,892	$75,528	$368,900
98609	Carrolls, WA	22 mi	0	—	—
97018	Columbia City, OR	22 mi	2,006	$96,750	$460,000

Zip codes like 98603 elsewhere

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

Questions about 98603

What city is zip code 98603?

98603 is assigned to Ariel, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98603 in?

98603 is in Cowlitz County, Washington.

What is the population of 98603?

About 1,267 people live in 98603, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98603 in?

98603 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98603?

The median household income in 98603 is $78,281.

What zip codes are near 98603?

The closest zip codes to 98603 are 98601, 98625, 98616, 98675, 98674.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98603, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.