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Centralia city, WA

ZIP 98531 — Housing & Real Estate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 98531

Median Home Value
$285,700
Median Rent
$932
Affordability Snapshot
$79,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$1,835/mo PITI).

18%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

Below the 30% threshold — generally affordable for median earners.

4.6x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Within the typical 3-5x range for home affordability.

25.5 yrs
Price-to-Rent Ratio

Years to break even buying vs renting at median home value and rent.

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 98531 in Centralia city, WA, a household would need roughly $79,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,835. That is about 27% above the local median household income ($61,963), so the median earner would likely stretch or need a larger down payment. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Housing Tenure

Owner-occupied majority; balanced tenure mix.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
64.9%-1% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
4.4%-57% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
87.8%+1% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
2.6%-82% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
5.2%-59% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
0.4%-94% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
26.1%-48% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
43.0%+13% vs US avg
x
$285,700
Home Value
$932
Rent
1976
Year Built
2015
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2015 on average

Housing Structure

Census ACS structure types (single-family, multi-unit, etc.).

  • 1-unit detached58.2%
  • 1-unit attached3.8%
  • 2-9 units12.3%
  • 10+ units8.9%
  • Mobile home & other16.7%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$285,700
Median rent$932
Owner-occupied64.9%
Vacant4.4%
Price-to-income4.6x
Est. income to buy$79,000