98944 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 98944, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

98944 is a zip code in Benton County and Yakima County, Washington, which covers Hanford Site CCD, Northwest Benton CCD, Northeast Yakima CCD, and Sunnyside, with a total population of 25,194 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 98944 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 98944.

The estimated population of people living in 98944 is 25,194, with a median age of 27.1.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 98944 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
25,194
+0.98%
+12.26%
2020
24,949
+5.78%
-
2019
23,586
+3.5%
-
2018
22,788
+1.54%
-
2017
22,442
 - -

Population of 98944 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 98944 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
15.7%
17.4%
 -9.77%
Black/African American
0.6%
0%
 0.00%
Native
0%
0.2%
 -100.00%
Hispanic
83.4%
81.8%
 +1.96%
Asian
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.2%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
0%
0.4%
 -100.00%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 98944 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 98944 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 98944 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 98944 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 27.1 -0.37% 27.4 +0.74% 26.6 -2.56%
2020 27.2 +3.03% 27.2 +10.12% 27.3 -5.86%
2019 26.4 -1.49% 24.7 -2.76% 29 +2.47%
2018 26.8 -2.19% 25.4 -0.39% 28.3 -1.39%
2017 27.4 - 25.5 - 28.7 -

The median age of the 98944 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 98944 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,851 +0.1% 2,033 +12.69% 2,852 2,299
10 to 19 1,971 +20.82% 2,180 +28.98% 2,356 2,848
20 to 29 1,472 +14.21% 1,638 +3.18% 1,678 1,651
30 to 39 1,246 +15.53% 1,557 +1.2% 1,423 1,570
40 to 49 1,343 2.1% 1,040 +17.27% 1,319 1,201
50 to 59 1,031 +7.18% 1,053 1.03% 1,055 1,048
60 to 69 673 +41.84% 842 +13.35% 963 947
70+ 700 +46.46% 812 +25.65% 996 988

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 98944 zip code is $50,859.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 98944.

  • Under 25
    $57,684.00
  • 25 to 44
    $53,897.00
  • 45 to 64
    $63,601.00
  • 65 and over
    $31,864.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 98944 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 98944, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 98944 is currently $67,322.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.31% of households in 98944 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 98944 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    20.48%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    29.36%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.28%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.00%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.91%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.66%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.31%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 98944 is $18,021.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 98944 by the total population of 98944.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 98944 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 98944 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.62%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12.50%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    16.91%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    53.88%
  • Less than high school diploma
    9.09%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 98944 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 98944 zip over the age of 16 is 16,816.

Of those people, a total of 64.40% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 98944 is 56.70%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 98944 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,977 41.00% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 1,611 77.40% 23.40%
25 to 29 years 1,718 85.30% 7.30%
30 to 34 years 1,747 81.10% 19.30%
35 to 44 years 2,585 85.90% 5.50%
45 to 54 years 2,125 71.50% 3.20%
55 to 59 years 1,159 69.50% 8.10%
60 to 64 years 1,210 43.60% 7.20%
65 to 74 years 1,707 44.10% 40.80%
75 years and over 977 6.80% 36.40%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 98944. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 11,183 61.50% 10.90%
Black or African American 130 96.90% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 92 97.80% 3.30%
Asian 29 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 33 57.60% 0.00%
Other 2,723 67.60% 11.00%
Two or more races 2,626 71.70% 17.10%
Hispanic or Latino 13,151 67.90% 12.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 3,500 51.10% 7.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 98944 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 98944 is 9,535, with median earnings of $27,146.00.

Women in 98944 are earning approximately 72.10% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 9,535 $27,146.00
Male 5,287 $32,018.00
Female 4,248 $23,072.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 98944 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 730 $41,023.00
Business and Financial 201 $67,774.00
Computer and Mathematical 32 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 7 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 51 $100,048.00
Community and Social Service 175 $37,159.00
Legal 46 $0.00
Educational and Library 525 $29,940.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 29 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 148 $85,000.00
Healthcare Support 450 $22,451.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 170 $26,389.00
Law Enforcement 14 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 394 $12,252.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 632 $25,333.00
Personal Care and Service 98 $21,667.00
Sales 554 $26,288.00
Office and Administrative Support 686 $30,294.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 2,343 $27,033.00
Construction and Extraction 333 $44,066.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 239 $33,951.00
Production 423 $25,045.00
Transportation and Material Moving 288 $29,000.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 98944 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 98944.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 479 $78,069.00 251 $26,819.00
Business and Financial 55 $68,872.00 146 $60,357.00
Computer and Mathematical 32 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 7 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 13 $0.00 38 $0.00
Community and Social Service 30 $0.00 145 $57,816.00
Legal 46 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 89 $74,931.00 436 $27,857.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 29 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 11 $0.00 137 $82,708.00
Healthcare Support 63 $0.00 387 $21,687.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 170 $26,389.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 14 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 32 $8,000.00 362 $12,417.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 408 $26,484.00 224 $24,451.00
Personal Care and Service 13 $0.00 85 $20,764.00
Sales 402 $26,818.00 152 $21,667.00
Office and Administrative Support 337 $22,535.00 349 $35,927.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,546 $29,462.00 797 $21,440.00
Construction and Extraction 304 $44,525.00 29 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 208 $34,643.00 31 $0.00
Production 231 $45,472.00 192 $18,981.00
Transportation and Material Moving 284 $29,333.00 4 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 6,578 households in 98944, with an average household size of 3.79 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 5,466 families living in the 98944 zip code with an average family size of 4.09 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 98944:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 3,457 731 1,278 1,112
Average Household Size 4.34 4.23 4.4 1.11
Total Families 3,457 731 1,278 0
Average Household Size 4.23 3.57 4.01 0

Poverty

Of the 5,466 families living in 98944, 14.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 98944:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 6,897 housing units in 98944.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 6,578 95.37%
Vacant 319 4.63%

33.78% of the total 6,897 housing units in 98944 are rental units. This is approximately 2,330 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,129 are occupied by the owner - or 59.87% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 98944 is $813.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 98944 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    119
  • Less than $500
    291
  • $500 to $999
    1,223
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    535
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    137
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    11
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    133

Property Value

The median value of a property in 98944 is $162,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 98944 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    630
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    280
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    795
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    999
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    837
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    411
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    128
  • $1,000,000 or more
    49

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 98944. The chart below shows the number of properties in 98944 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    456
  • 1940 to 1949
    746
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,280
  • 1960 to 1969
    590
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,450
  • 1980 to 1989
    584
  • 1990 to 1999
    751
  • 2000 to 2009
    686
  • 2010 to 2013
    354
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 98944 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    296
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,332
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,899
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,051

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 98944 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 98944 that commute to work in a particular way.

21.2 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 98944.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    477
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,466
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,684
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,486
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    988
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    318
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,065
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    171
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    197
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    611
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    308
  • 90 or more minutes
    93

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 98944 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 98944

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 98944 compare to other zip codes in Washington, check out the list of all Washington zip codes below: