98103 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
98122
98103
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 49%
vs56 · Top 47%
Growth
61 · Top 31%
vs61 · Top 31%
Climate
74 · Top 37%
vs74 · Top 37%
Physical resilience
40 · Bottom 32%
vs40 · Bottom 32%
Housing affordability
45 · Bottom 12%
vs59 · Bottom 27%
Access
95 · Bottom 49%
vs94 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs80 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | 98122 | 98103 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,234 | 52,671 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $106,886 | $131,154 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $92,135 | $96,570 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 18,508/sq mi | 11,475/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $957,100 | $1,044,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,991 | $2,032 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 28.4% | 44.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.2% | 78.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 6.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,827 | 4,827 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 6.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 25.0% | 25.0% | 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 | 36.5" | 37.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 27.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.4 | 34.5 | 2024 ACS 5-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
98122
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
98103
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 98122 — Seattle, WA · 98103 — Seattle, WA · How this is calculated: methodology