98056 and 98031 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
98056
98031
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 32%
vs41 · Bottom 23%
Growth
26 · Bottom 12%
vs25 · Bottom 11%
Climate
74 · Top 36%
vs74 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
40 · Bottom 31%
vs40 · Bottom 31%
Housing affordability
58 · Bottom 20%
vs63 · Bottom 26%
Access
95 · Top 43%
vs95 · Top 43%
Economic stability
74 · Top 23%
vs71 · Top 30%
Measured values
| Metric | 98056 | 98031 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,849 | 40,094 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $113,688 | $105,965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $60,863 | $46,315 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,741/sq mi | 5,185/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $797,300 | $611,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,061 | $1,991 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.3% | 67.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 32.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 79 | 109 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 0.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.2% | -12.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.7" | 34.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 33.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.04 | 18.75 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 44.3% | 56.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
98056
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
98031
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 98056 — Renton, WA · 98031 — Kent, WA · How this is calculated: methodology