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, WA

ZIP Code 98261 — undefined, WA Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow AreaRemote Work Hub

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
3,030
Median Income
$78,871
+5% vs US avg
Home Value
$700,900
+101% vs US avg
Median Rent
$1,044
-10% vs US avg
Median Age
60.7 yrs
+56% vs US avg
City
N/A
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
EnglishGermanIrish
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Location
Coordinates
48.4825, -122.8840
Elevation
109 ft
Land Area
29.8 sq mi
Water Area
24.6 sq mi (45% water)

At a glance

Population
3,030
Density
N/A
Median income
$78,871
+5% vs US avg
Home value
$700,900
+101% vs US avg
Median rent
$1,044
-10% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 98261

RetirementRetirement-oriented community
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What to know about ZIP 98261

ZIP code 98261 covers WA in San Juan County with a population of about 3,030.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 60.7 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 360, 564; U.S. House district WA-2; the SEATTLE - TACOMA media market.

Local search focus: Retirement

WA fits a retirement-oriented profile (high share of residents 65+ (40.8%)). Residents and relocators commonly research healthcare access, everyday amenities (dining, personal services), and housing costs rather than tech or campus life.

Income and economy in WA

Median household income in ZIP 98261 is about $78,871 — about 5% above the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 13.1%; unemployment rate near 3.2%; 58.6% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 24.9 points above the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Construction, Professional services, and Retail trade; about 22.9% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 7.7 points above the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 98261

Median home value is about $700,900 — about 101% above the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $1,044 (about 10% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 79.1% (about 13.7 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 98261 in WA, a household would need roughly $193,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $4,502. That is about 145% above the local median household income ($78,871), so the median earner would likely stretch or need a larger down payment. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for WA as Very Low (composite score 35.4), which is relatively lower than many U.S. communities. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (42.1) and wildfire (41.3). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for WA show little to no average snow and around 18.5 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 163 for ZIP 98261 (WA) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport FRD (7.0 miles (11.3 km)) · Northwest Indian College (24.8 miles (39.9 km)) · San Juan Island National Historical Park (8.4 miles (13.5 km)) · VA: Bellingham Vet Center (25.8 miles (41.5 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.