The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 98555 sells for about $335,000, or $265 per square foot.
Prices are down 2.1% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 54 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,850 a month.
ZIP 98555 — Lilliwaup
The 98555 housing market is characterized by low inventory and slow turnover, reflecting its remote, rural nature. Prices have remained relatively flat year-over-year, with demand constrained by the long commute to major employment hubs. The market is currently stable but sensitive to broader economic shifts affecting discretionary vacation-home spending.
This area is best suited for retirees, remote workers, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle away from the urban core, rather than daily commuters.
Median prices moved down 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 54 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.2% · poverty 9.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 98555, Mason County WA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Lilliwaup is a rural, unincorporated community with very low reported crime rates compared to the more urbanized areas of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater metro.
The area is served by the Hood Canal School District; schools are small and rural, with limited extracurricular offerings compared to larger neighboring districts.
The ZIP is located in a high-risk zone for seismic activity and potential landslides along the Hood Canal shoreline, with significant wildfire risk in surrounding forested areas.
Economic momentum is minimal, driven primarily by tourism, recreation, and small-scale forestry; there is little large-scale commercial development.
Property taxes are assessed by Mason County based on the state's uniform ad valorem system, with no local municipal income tax.
Commuting to the Olympia employment core is a significant drive, typically exceeding 45-60 minutes via US-101.
The area is a premier destination for outdoor recreation, featuring extensive access to Hood Canal for boating and fishing, as well as proximity to Olympic National Forest trails.
The rental market is thin, dominated by seasonal vacation rentals and limited long-term housing stock, leading to high vacancy pressure during off-peak months.
The local economy is heavily reliant on tourism, shellfish aquaculture, and public sector employment in nearby Shelton and Olympia.
Public transit is virtually non-existent; residents are entirely dependent on private vehicles for all transportation needs.
Development is strictly limited by rural zoning and environmental protections, with no major master-planned communities in the pipeline.
Mason County Assessor maintains property valuations based on annual market analysis and physical inspections.
Parcels are subject to Mason County fire and emergency service districts, and local public utility district (PUD) assessments.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to increased wildfire risk and the remote nature of the geography for emergency response.
Washington state continues to see a slight net domestic migration outflow, though the Olympia metro area remains a destination for regional movers.
Washington is a non-judicial foreclosure state, providing a streamlined process for lenders with specific notice requirements.
Sellers are required to provide a comprehensive real estate transfer disclosure statement covering all known material defects.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov for ZCTA 98555.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Major regional attraction for shellfish harvesting, boating, and diving.
Provides vast wilderness access for hiking and camping directly bordering the ZIP.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.