Area data
Ethel, WA — ZIP 98542
Population: 625 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 98542 (Ethel, WA) is $372,300. Homes sell for a median $659,000 after a median 122 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with avalanche, earthquake, inlandflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$372,300
Median home value
122
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $372,300
- 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
- $659,000
- Median list price
- $699,999
- Median price per sqft
- $373
- 1-year sale-price change
- +73.4%
- Median days on market
- 122 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 3
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 92.7%
- Active listings
- 2
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 107.0 (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)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- avalanche, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, volcanicActivity
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- avalanche: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Moderate · landslide: Relatively Moderate
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 69% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 70.1%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Hamilton/Labree Roads Ground Water Contamination (11.8 mi)
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)
- Average annual temperature
- 54.0°F
- Average high
- 63.0°F
- Average low
- 44.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 48.5 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 22
- Days with Good air quality
- 336
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 23
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 129
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 1
- Nearest national park
- Mount Rainier National Park (54 mi)
- Airports within 30 mi
- 25
- Nearest airport
- Nelsons Nitch Airport (1 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Southwest Washington Regional Airport (KLS) (30 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 9
- Hospitals include
- PROVIDENCE CENTRALIA HOSPITAL, PROVIDENCE ST PETER HOSPITAL, PEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.2 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Poor (3.3 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 2,004
- Housing built before 1970
- 8.7%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 70.0%
- Median annual property tax
- $3,295
- Households with broadband internet
- 27.4%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 22,427
- Average weekly wage
- $1,027
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Wholesale Trade
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 196
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 98542 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $659,000 | $510,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 122 days | 29 days | 51 days |
| Median annual property tax | $3,295 | $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 98542?
- $372,300.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 98542?
- $659,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 98542?
- Median days on market: 122 days.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 98542?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, volcanicActivity.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 98542?
- Risk to homes is higher than 69% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 98542?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 98542?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 98542?
- Good. Median AQI: 22. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 98542?
- Regional Price Parity: 107.0 (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 →