98042 ZIP Code — Kent, WA
King County, Washington
ZIP code 98042 is located in Kent, Washington, within King County. It covers approximately 27.79 square miles and serves a population of 49,338 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Pacific (PT) timezone, served by area code 253/425.
About ZIP code 98042
The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 2000s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $568,100. Owner-occupancy is high at 84%, well above the national average.
The gap between median ($122,709) and mean household income suggests income inequality — a small number of higher earners pull the average up. The poverty rate of 4% is below the national average.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 35 minutes is near the national average.
Educational attainment is near the national average, with 33% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
49,338
population
27.79
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Pacific (PT)
timezone
98042 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 98042
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 98042. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Kent | Acceptable |
| Kent | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
98030 Kent (4.5 mi)
98058 Renton (4.9 mi)
98092 Auburn (5.2 mi)
98038 Maple Valley (5.3 mi)
98031 Kent (5.6 mi)
98010 Black Diamond (6.1 mi)
98002 Auburn (6.3 mi)
98055 Renton (7.4 mi)
98032 Kent (7.8 mi)
98001 Auburn (8.6 mi)
98051 Ravensdale (8.6 mi)
98057 Renton (9.2 mi)
Demographics
updated 06/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 49,338 |
| Population density | 1,775 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 53 |
| County FIPS | 033 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 27.79 sq mi |
| Water area | 0.58 sq mi |
| Latitude | 47.3645 |
| Longitude | -122.1021 |
| Timezone | Pacific (PT) |
| Area code | 253/425 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 06/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 18.5% | 24.4% | 31.7% |
| $50k – $100k | 28.8% | 25.9% | 30.6% |
| $100k – $200k | 37.9% | 30.8% | 27.1% |
| Over $200k | 14.9% | 18.9% | 10.6% |
Demographics & statistics
49,338
Population
1,775
People per sq mi
39.8
Median age
$122,709
Median household income
$51,663
Per capita income
$568,100
Median home value
$2,000
Median monthly rent
83.5%
Home ownership
4.2%
Poverty rate
3.0%
Unemployment
14,504
Housing units
32.7%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
1,534
Under 5
1,449
1,848
5–9
1,746
1,679
10–14
1,585
1,684
15–19
1,590
1,461
20–24
1,380
2,786
25–34
2,630
3,757
35–44
3,547
3,725
45–54
3,518
1,767
55–59
1,668
1,985
60–64
1,875
2,055
65–74
1,940
770
75–84
728
325
85+
306
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 11,914 | 24.1% |
| 18 and over | 37,424 | 75.9% |
| 65 and over | 6,124 | 12.4% |
| Median age | 39.8 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
62.2%
Asian
12.2%
Two or more races
8.4%
Hispanic or Latino
7.2%
Black or African American
5.9%
Other race
3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.3%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 33,075 | 62.2% |
| Asian | 6,469 | 12.2% |
| Two or more races | 4,463 | 8.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,828 | 7.2% |
| Black or African American | 3,146 | 5.9% |
| Other race | 1,828 | 3.4% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 216 | 0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 141 | 0.3% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 18.5% | 24.4% | 31.7% |
| $50k – $100k | 28.8% | 25.9% | 30.6% |
| $100k – $200k | 37.9% | 30.8% | 27.1% |
| Over $200k | 14.9% | 18.9% | 10.6% |
Under $10k
1.8%
$10k–$15k
0.9%
$15k–$25k
1.9%
$25k–$35k
3.1%
$35k–$50k
6.5%
$50k–$75k
11.5%
$75k–$100k
11.8%
$100k–$150k
24.0%
$150k–$200k
16.5%
$200k+
22.0%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 1.8% |
| $10k–$15k | 0.9% |
| $15k–$25k | 1.9% |
| $25k–$35k | 3.1% |
| $35k–$50k | 6.5% |
| $50k–$75k | 11.5% |
| $75k–$100k | 11.8% |
| $100k–$150k | 24.0% |
| $150k–$200k | 16.5% |
| $200k+ | 22.0% |
| Median income | $122,709 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
2.1%
$50k–$100k
0.7%
$100k–$150k
1.0%
$150k–$200k
0.8%
$200k–$300k
4.6%
$300k–$500k
29.2%
$500k–$1M
56.9%
$1M+
4.6%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $568,100 |
| Median rent / month | $2,000 |
| Owner occupied | 83.5% |
| Renter occupied | 16.5% |
| Vacant | 3.5% |
| Single-family detached | 85.6% |
| Large apartment buildings | 3.9% |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% |
| Median rooms | 6.6 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.95 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.8% |
| 2010–2019 | 8.1% |
| 2000–2009 | 18.5% |
| 1990–1999 | 17.2% |
| 1980–1989 | 17.3% |
| 1970–1979 | 15.8% |
| 1960–1969 | 15.5% |
| 1950–1959 | 3.8% |
| 1940–1949 | 1.0% |
| 1939 or earlier | 2.0% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 0.9% |
| 1 bedroom | 3.8% |
| 2 bedrooms | 9.4% |
| 3 bedrooms | 44.1% |
| 4 bedrooms | 34.8% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 7.0% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 3.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 17.7% |
| 2 vehicles | 37.4% |
| 3 or more | 41.4% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 56.9% |
| Electricity | 33.7% |
| Propane / LP gas | 3.4% |
| Fuel oil | 3.0% |
| Wood | 1.8% |
| No fuel used | 0.3% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 10,700 | 64.2% |
| Cohabiting couple | 1,133 | 6.8% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 2,227 | 13.4% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 2,594 | 15.6% |
| Households with children under 18 | 6,353 | 38.1% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 4,275 | 25.7% |
| Average household size | 2.96 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 29.3% | 22.9% |
| Married | 59.6% | 58.1% |
| Separated | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Widowed | 1.9% | 6.5% |
| Divorced | 8.7% | 11.7% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
2.7%
Some HS, no diploma
4.4%
HS graduate
23.9%
Some college, no degree
24.0%
Associate's degree
12.3%
Bachelor's degree
23.1%
Graduate / professional
9.6%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 92.9% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.7% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 436 | 3.8% |
| Kindergarten | 752 | 6.5% |
| Elementary school | 5,128 | 44.6% |
| High school | 2,791 | 24.3% |
| College / grad school | 2,382 | 20.7% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
18.4%
Manufacturing
12.9%
Retail trade
11.5%
Professional & management
10.7%
Construction
9.6%
Transportation & utilities
9.0%
Arts, food & hospitality
8.0%
Finance & real estate
6.2%
Public administration
4.3%
Other services
4.0%
Wholesale trade
3.3%
Information
1.5%
Agriculture & mining
0.5%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 40.7% |
| Service | 14.3% |
| Sales & office | 23.2% |
| Natural resources & construction | 8.8% |
| Production & transportation | 13.1% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 80.5% |
| Government | 14.0% |
| Self-employed | 5.3% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.2% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 75.8% |
| Carpool | 7.7% |
| Public transit | 2.0% |
| Walk | 0.9% |
| Work from home | 12.8% |
| Other means | 0.7% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 34.5 |
Poverty
All people
4.2%
Under 18 years
4.1%
18 and over
4.2%
Married-couple families
1.4%
Female-led households
15.0%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 24.5% |
| Retirement income | 23.4% |
| Supplemental Security | 3.9% |
| Cash public assistance | 2.7% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 6.3% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 22.9% |
| High blood pressure | 26.9% |
| High cholesterol | 30.1% |
| Diabetes | 6.8% |
| Heart disease | 4.4% |
| Stroke | 2.2% |
| Asthma | 9.7% |
| Arthritis | 19.9% |
| Kidney disease | 2.2% |
| Pulmonary disease | 4.4% |
| Cancer | 5.9% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 12.3% |
| Binge drinking | 19.7% |
| No physical activity | 14.4% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 28.1% |
| Depression | 25.4% |
| Fair or poor health | 10.5% |
| Poor mental health | 14.0% |
| Poor physical health | 8.5% |
| No health insurance | 10.1% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 67.7% |
| Visited dentist | 71.5% |
| Cholesterol screening | 88.9% |
| Teeth loss | 8.0% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 3,053 | 8.2% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 10.6% |
| Under 18 | 4.2% |
| 18–64 years | 8.4% |
| 65 and over | 34.2% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 77.2% |
| Public insurance | 28.8% |
| No insurance | 4.9% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 4.1% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 46,355 | 94.0% |
| Spanish | 4,870 | 10.5% |
| Other Indo-European | 910 | 2.0% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 1,824 | 3.9% |
| Other languages | 1,714 | 3.7% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 40,350 | 81.8% |
| Born in same state | 39,630 | 80.3% |
| Born in different state | 24,763 | 50.2% |
| Foreign born | 720 | 1.5% |
| Naturalized citizen | 8,988 | 18.2% |
| Not a US citizen | 5,120 | 57.0% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| French | 6,342 | 12.9% |
| Italian | 3,598 | 7.3% |
| Polish | 2,236 | 4.5% |
| Arab | 1,715 | 3.5% |
| English | 557 | 1.1% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch | 483 | 1% |
| Irish | 305 | 0.6% |
| Norwegian | 193 | 0.4% |
| German | 190 | 0.4% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 33.8% |
| Internet access | 97.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 98042
What city is ZIP code 98042 in?
ZIP code 98042 is primarily assigned to Kent, Washington.
What county is ZIP code 98042 in?
ZIP code 98042 falls within King County, Washington.
Is ZIP code 98042 mostly owner-occupied?
84% of occupied units in ZIP code 98042 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.
What is the median household income in ZIP code 98042?
The median household income in ZIP code 98042 is $122,709, above the national median of ~$75,000.
What is the typical home value in ZIP code 98042?
The median home value in ZIP code 98042 is $568,100.
What is the population of ZIP code 98042?
ZIP code 98042 has an estimated population of 49,338 residents, with a density of 1,776 people per square mile.
What timezone is ZIP code 98042 in?
ZIP code 98042 observes the PST timezone.