Jan 8, 2025 - Real Estate

Washington's wealthiest ZIP codes

Christine Clarridge

An aerial view of a pricey waterfront neighborhood in Seattle. — An aerial view of Laurelhurst in one of Seattle's most expensive ZIP codes. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Washington ZIP codes are home to some of the priciest real estate and richest residents in the country — with Medina's 98039 at the top.

Why it matters: Disparities in income and housing prices highlight the economic divide statewide, with many middle- and lower-income residents finding home ownership out of their reach due to skyrocketing home costs and limited supply.

By the numbers: Washington's most exclusive ZIP codes are concentrated on the Eastside, per real estate website Realty Hop: Medina (median price $4.2 million), 98040/Mercer Island ($2.3 million), and 98004/Bellevue ($1.95 million).

The Medina ZIP code was also among the state's highest average income at $460,000, followed by Sammamish at $319,000 and Mercer Island's $303,425, according to census data aggregated by Cubit's Income by Zipcode.

Zoom in: Seattle neighborhoods with the highest median home values in September include Washington Park, Montlake, Magnolia and Laurelhurst, according to Forbes.

Yes, but: Washington doesn't even crack the top 10 priciest U.S. ZIP codes for 2024, according to real estate data company Property Shark.

Atherton, California, took the top spot for the eighth consecutive year with a $7.9 million median home price, per shark's report.
California is home to seven of the nation's 10 priciest locales, followed by New York with two and Florida with one.

Reality check: Seattle's median household income is just over $120,000 per year, according to the latest census data.

Statewide, single-person households are often much lower.

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Washington's wealthiest ZIP codes

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