ZIP Code Tabulation Area · Washington

ZIP Code 98230: Birch Bay, WA

ZIP Code 98230 (Birch Bay, Whatcom County, Washington) has an estimated 18,744 residents in 7,976 households. The median household income is $86,623, the median home value is $499,800 and the median gross rent is $1,365/mo. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the matching ZIP Code Tabulation Area.

American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · Updated Oct 26, 2026

Total population

18,744

Margin of error ±980

Median household income

$86,623

Margin of error ±$6,890

Median home value

$499,800

Margin of error ±$35,949

Median gross rent

$1,365/mo

Margin of error ±$258

Median age

45.6 yrs

Margin of error ±2.3 yrs

Mean travel time to work

23.3 min

Margin of error ±3.3 min

How ZIP 98230 compares with Washington and the U.S.

State and national figures are the Census Bureau's own estimates for those areas from the same ACS release, not averages of ZIP codes.

Median age

ZIP 9823045.6 yrsWashington38.3 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 98230$86,623Washington$98,141United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 98230$46,519Washington$53,744United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 982309.4%Washington9.9%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 982304.4%Washington5.1%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 9823031.9%Washington39.6%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 98230$499,800Washington$564,600United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 98230$1,365/moWashington$1,760/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 9823079.6%Washington63.8%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 9823023.3 minWashington26.6 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 9823016.8%Washington19.8%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 98230

Each estimate has a 90% margin of error: the true value is likely within that range. * marks estimates with a large margin of error (a coefficient of variation above 30%, or ±10 percentage points or more for rates).

ZIP 98230 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 98230	Margin of error	Washington	United States
Total population	18,744	±980	7,816,116	334,922,499
Median age	45.6 yrs	±2.3 yrs	38.3 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	7,976	±491	3,064,820	129,227,496
Median household income	$86,623	±$6,890	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$46,519	±$3,710	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.4%	±2.9 pts	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.4%	±1.9 pts	5.1%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.9%	±3.5 pts	39.6%	35.7%
Median home value	$499,800	±$35,949	$564,600	$332,700
Median gross rent	$1,365/mo	±$258	$1,760/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	79.6%	±1.8 pts	63.8%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	23.3 min	±3.3 min	26.6 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	16.8%	±3.3 pts	19.8%	15.1%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Shares of the total population by the Census Bureau's race and Hispanic or Latino origin categories (table B03002), listed in the Census Bureau's order. People self-identify on the survey.

Population by race and Hispanic or Latino origin, ZIP 98230
Group	ZIP 98230	Washington	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	76.0%	63.1%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	3.8%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	0.8%	0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	9.7%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	0.7%	0.2%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	0.6%	0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	7.4%	6.8%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	8.5%	14.4%	19.3%

Where ZIP 98230 is

State: Washington
Main county: Whatcom County
Largest overlapping place: Birch Bay (40% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 42.53 sq mi· about 441 people per sq mi

County and place names come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files. A ZIP code's mailing city, set by the U.S. Postal Service, can differ from these names.

Other ZIP codes in Whatcom County

98220 Whatcom County, WA 98225 Bellingham, WA 98226 Whatcom County, WA 98229 Whatcom County, WA 98240 Whatcom County, WA 98244 Whatcom County, WA 98247 Whatcom County, WA 98248 Whatcom County, WA 98262 Whatcom County, WA 98264 Whatcom County, WA 98266 Whatcom County, WA 98276 Nooksack, WA 98281 Point Roberts, WA 98283 Whatcom County, WA 98295 Whatcom County, WA

See every ZIP code in Washington, or compare ZIP 98230 with another ZIP code.

Census figures describe residents as a group and cannot tell you about any one home or street. For a specific address, check local government and housing records.

About ZIP codes and ZCTAs: the Census Bureau publishes statistics for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP code delivery areas. Learn how they differ.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, detailed tables B01003, B01002, B11001, B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003, B25077, B25064, B25003, B08013, B08303, B08301, B03002 — snapshot Oct 26, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA5 relationship files (county and place).
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (detailed tables) and 2020 Census ZCTA relationship files. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. These agencies do not endorse OpenZIP.