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Area data

Seattle, WA — ZIP 98121

Population: 21,166 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 98121 (Seattle, WA) is $544,576 — down 5.4% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $599,000 after a median 42.5 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,700/month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very High, with avalanche, earthquake, inlandflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$544,576

Median home value

-5.4%

1-year change

42.5

Median days on market

Very High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$544,576
1-year appreciation
-5.4%
3-year appreciation
-12.0%
5-year appreciation
-12.6%
10-year appreciation
+2.5%
All-time peak (2018-08)
$716,974
House Price Index (state)
588.1 (+2.2% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$599,000
Median list price
$517,000
Median price per sqft
$672
1-year sale-price change
-5.7%
Median days on market
42.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
57
For-sale inventory
191
Sale-to-list ratio
98.3%
Active listings
143
1-year forecast
-1.6%
Days to pending
86 days
New listings (monthly)
40

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,700/mo
1-year rent change
-2.5%
Studio fair-market rent
$3,100/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$3,210/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$3,740/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$4,890/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$5,750/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
107.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.1¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$17.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very High
Top hazards (county)
avalanche, earthquake, inlandFlooding, heatWave, iceStorm
Notable hazard ratings (county)
avalanche: Very High · coastalFlooding: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Low · earthquake: Very High · heatWave: Relatively High · iceStorm: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone
A
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 65% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
14.8%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
3
Nearest Superfund site
Lockheed West Seattle (2.2 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
38.4 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
9a (extreme annual low 20 to 25°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
46
Days with Good air quality
214
Days with Moderate air quality
145
Days with Unhealthy air quality
1
Highest AQI recorded (year)
165

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
17.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
154
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
244,737
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
113,459

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (1 mi)
National parks include
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Airports within 30 mi
29
Nearest airport
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI) (7 mi)
Nearest major airport
King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI) (7 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
13
Hospitals include
VIRGINIA MASON MEDICAL CENTER, HIGHLINE MEDICAL CENTER, SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER / CHERRY HILL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.3 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Poor (3.5 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-5,092 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
2,005
Housing built before 1970
13.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
61.5%
Median annual property tax
$7,225
Mean commute to work
11 min
Households with broadband internet
86.3%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
1,282,761
Average weekly wage
$2,389
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Professional Services, Information
Annual residential building permits (county)
2,030

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 98121State medianUS median
Median home value$544,576$504,993$289,727
Median sale price$599,000$510,000$325,000
Median days on market43 days29 days51 days
Typical rent$2,700/mo$2,041/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$7,225$3,381$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 98121?
$544,576.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 98121?
$599,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 98121?
Median days on market: 42.5 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 98121?
Typical rent: $2,700/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 98121?
Overall risk: Very High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, earthquake, inlandFlooding, heatWave, iceStorm.
Is ZIP 98121 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 98121?
Risk to homes is higher than 65% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 98121?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 98121?
3 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Lockheed West Seattle, 2.2 mi.
Is ZIP 98121 walkable?
Walkability index: 17.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 98121?
Good. Median AQI: 46. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 98121?
Regional Price Parity: 107.5 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents