98261 ZIP Code — Lopez Island, WA

San Juan County, Washington

ZIP code 98261 is located in Lopez Island, Washington, within San Juan County. It covers approximately 29.81 square miles and serves a population of 3,112 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Pacific (PT) timezone, served by area code 360/564.

About ZIP code 98261

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1990s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $628,500. Owner-occupancy is high at 78%, well above the national average.

The gap between median ($73,077) and mean household income suggests income inequality — a small number of higher earners pull the average up. 50% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 19 minutes is near the national average. Remote work is prevalent — 21% of workers work from home.

Educational attainment is high — 55% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national average of 33%.

Overall, ZIP code 98261 reflects a community defined by a highly educated population, high homeownership, a high rate of remote workers, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

3,112

population

29.81

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Pacific (PT)

timezone

98261 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 98261

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 98261. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Lopez Island	Acceptable
Lopez Island	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

98222 Blakely Island (6.5 mi) 98250 Friday Harbor (9.7 mi) 98221 Anacortes (10.6 mi) 98279 Olga (10.8 mi) 98245 Eastsound (12.2 mi) 98278 Oak Harbor (16.2 mi) 98262 Lummi Island (17.1 mi) 98277 Oak Harbor (18 mi) 98257 La Conner (19.3 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	3,112
Population density	104 / sq mi
State FIPS	53
County FIPS	055

Geography
Land area	29.81 sq mi
Water area	24.63 sq mi
Latitude	48.5066
Longitude	-122.9085
Timezone	Pacific (PT)
Area code	360/564

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	37.8%	38.6%	31.7%
$50k – $100k	36.8%	29.7%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	19.1%	22.8%	27.1%
Over $200k	6.2%	9.0%	10.6%

Demographics & statistics

3,112

Population

104

People per sq mi

59.5

Median age

$73,077

Median household income

$48,631

Per capita income

$628,500

Median home value

$1,117

Median monthly rent

78.1%

Home ownership

14.4%

Poverty rate

2.7%

Unemployment

2,057

Housing units

54.5%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

100

124

35–44

132

157

45–54

168

146

55–59

156

160

60–64

171

359

65–74

383

186

75–84

198

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	382	12.3%
18 and over	2,730	87.7%
65 and over	1,191	38.3%
Median age	59.5 years

Race & ethnicity

White 88.5%

Hispanic or Latino 3.9%

Two or more races 3.6%

Other race 2%

Asian 0.9%

Black or African American 0.6%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	2,867	88.5%
Hispanic or Latino	127	3.9%
Two or more races	117	3.6%
Other race	64	2%
Asian	28	0.9%
Black or African American	19	0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	15	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	2	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	37.8%	38.6%	31.7%
$50k – $100k	36.8%	29.7%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	19.1%	22.8%	27.1%
Over $200k	6.2%	9.0%	10.6%

Under $10k 8.1%

$10k–$15k 3.7%

$15k–$25k 6.9%

$25k–$35k 4.9%

$35k–$50k 11.4%

$50k–$75k 16.4%

$75k–$100k 15.3%

$100k–$150k 15.0%

$150k–$200k 7.8%

$200k+ 10.6%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	8.1%
$10k–$15k	3.7%
$15k–$25k	6.9%
$25k–$35k	4.9%
$35k–$50k	11.4%
$50k–$75k	16.4%
$75k–$100k	15.3%
$100k–$150k	15.0%
$150k–$200k	7.8%
$200k+	10.6%
Median income	$73,077

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 1.6%

$50k–$100k 1.2%

$100k–$150k 2.0%

$150k–$200k 2.1%

$200k–$300k 10.2%

$300k–$500k 18.7%

$500k–$1M 42.3%

$1M+ 21.9%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$628,500
Median rent / month	$1,117
Owner occupied	78.1%
Renter occupied	21.9%
Vacant	37.9%
Single-family detached	91.1%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	5.1%
Median rooms	4.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.13

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.3%
2010–2019	6.5%
2000–2009	16.0%
1990–1999	19.0%
1980–1989	17.3%
1970–1979	17.7%
1960–1969	11.0%
1950–1959	5.1%
1940–1949	1.8%
1939 or earlier	5.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	6.9%
1 bedroom	19.6%
2 bedrooms	35.7%
3 bedrooms	27.0%
4 bedrooms	10.0%
5+ bedrooms	0.9%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	3.5%
1 vehicle	24.0%
2 vehicles	36.8%
3 or more	35.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	1.8%
Electricity	55.6%
Propane / LP gas	11.8%
Fuel oil	8.9%
Wood	20.8%
Solar	0.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	773	52.3%
Cohabiting couple	120	8.1%
Male householder, no spouse	268	18.1%
Female householder, no spouse	317	21.4%
Households with children under 18	262	17.7%
Households with seniors (65+)	798	54.0%
Average household size	2.10

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	22.5%	21.4%
Married	62.1%	55.4%
Separated	0.6%	1.0%
Widowed	5.1%	7.4%
Divorced	9.7%	14.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 0.6%

Some HS, no diploma 3.1%

HS graduate 11.7%

Some college, no degree 23.9%

Associate's degree 6.2%

Bachelor's degree 29.8%

Graduate / professional 24.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	96.3%
Bachelor's or higher	54.5%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	27	7.1%
Kindergarten	10	2.6%
Elementary school	186	48.9%
High school	138	36.3%
College / grad school	19	5.0%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 18.0%

Construction 16.7%

Professional & management 15.3%

Retail trade 8.2%

Manufacturing 7.1%

Arts, food & hospitality 6.4%

Public administration 5.6%

Transportation & utilities 5.2%

Other services 5.2%

Agriculture & mining 4.5%

Finance & real estate 4.1%

Information 2.7%

Wholesale trade 1.0%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	51.2%
Service	15.9%
Sales & office	10.4%
Natural resources & construction	13.9%
Production & transportation	8.6%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	62.9%
Government	17.2%
Self-employed	19.5%
Unpaid family workers	0.4%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	59.9%
Carpool	6.3%
Public transit	2.2%
Walk	6.1%
Work from home	21.0%
Other means	4.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	19.3

Poverty

All people 14.4%

Under 18 years 21.7%

18 and over 13.4%

Married-couple families 5.4%

Female-led households 45.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	50.3%
Retirement income	35.7%
Supplemental Security	3.7%
Cash public assistance	2.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	6.0%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	26.1%
High blood pressure	35.3%
High cholesterol	37.9%
Diabetes	10.6%
Heart disease	8.0%
Stroke	3.5%
Asthma	10.1%
Arthritis	30.3%
Kidney disease	3.6%
Pulmonary disease	6.9%
Cancer	10.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	10.8%
Binge drinking	13.4%
No physical activity	15.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	24.6%
Depression	23.1%
Fair or poor health	12.8%
Poor mental health	11.9%
Poor physical health	10.8%
No health insurance	7.2%
Visited doctor (checkup)	71.7%
Visited dentist	72.6%
Cholesterol screening	93.7%
Teeth loss	7.9%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	262	9.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	11.5%
Under 18	7.1%
18–64 years	10.5%
65 and over	14.2%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	64.5%
Public insurance	54.6%
No insurance	7.1%
Uninsured under 19	5.5%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,031	97.4%
Spanish	76	2.5%
Other Indo-European	51	1.7%
Asian & Pacific Islander	12	0.4%
Other languages	13	0.4%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	2,907	93.4%
Born in same state	2,829	90.9%
Born in different state	1,129	36.3%
Foreign born	78	2.5%
Naturalized citizen	205	6.6%
Not a US citizen	132	64.4%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
French	598	19.2%
Italian	422	13.6%
Polish	148	4.8%
English	87	2.8%
Arab	70	2.2%

Ancestry	Count	%
Dutch	40	1.3%
Norwegian	22	0.7%
German	13	0.4%
Irish	10	0.3%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	47.5%
Internet access	95.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 98261

What city is ZIP code 98261 in?

ZIP code 98261 is primarily assigned to Lopez Island, Washington.

What county is ZIP code 98261 in?

ZIP code 98261 falls within San Juan County, Washington.

Does ZIP code 98261 have an older population?

38% of residents in ZIP code 98261 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

Does ZIP code 98261 have a large retiree population?

50% of households in ZIP code 98261 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 98261?

55% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — well above the national average of ~33%, reflecting a highly educated population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 98261?

The median home value in ZIP code 98261 is $628,500.

What timezone is ZIP code 98261 in?

ZIP code 98261 observes the PST timezone.