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Demographic Analysis of Zip Code 98616: Low Diversity with White Majority
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The zip code 98616 in Cougar, Washington, as of 2022, is classified as having Low Diversity with a White Majority. The racial composition of the community is predominantly white (90%), with minor representations from Hispanic (6%), Native American (3%), and two or more races (1%). In 2022, the median income was $65,024, and the population consisted of 308 residents.
Over the past decade, Cougar has undergone a subtle transition from an extremely homogeneous community to one showing early indications of increasing diversity, although it remains predominantly white. From 2013 to 2015, the community exhibited an extremely Low Diversity profile, with whites comprising 98-99% of the population. In 2016-2017, a slight increase in diversity began, with a small percentage (1-2%) identifying as two or more races, though the area remained firmly in the Low Diversity category.
From 2018 to 2020, the community showed signs of transitioning towards Moderate Diversity. The white population decreased to 88-91%, while Native American representation appeared (2-4%) and those identifying as two or more races increased to 5-7%. The most recent years, 2021-2022, display characteristics of a Transitional Community. Hispanic representation emerged (6-8%), Native American presence stabilized (3-4%), and the white population fluctuated between 84-90%. Despite these changes, the area still falls under the Low Diversity category but shows potential for future shifts.
The median income in the area has shown an overall upward trend, increasing from $54,374 in 2013 to $65,024 in 2022, with a peak of $73,849 in 2021. This represents a 19.6% increase over the decade. The periods of most significant income growth coincide with the periods of increasing diversity. From 2013 to 2015, as the community remained highly homogeneous, income grew modestly from $54,374 to $62,911. Between 2016 and 2020, as minor diversity began to appear, income fluctuated but generally remained in the $60,000-$66,000 range. In 2021-2022, as the community showed more significant signs of diversification, income peaked at $73,849 in 2021 before settling at $65,024 in 2022.
The population has shown fluctuations, growing from 221 in 2013 to a peak of 314 in 2016, then varying between 224 and 313 in recent years. The current population of 308 in 2022 represents a 39.4% increase from 2013.
Cougar remains significantly less diverse than Washington state as a whole. As of 2022, Washington's population was approximately 67% white, 13% Hispanic, 9% Asian, and 4% Black, indicating much higher diversity than Cougar. The median household income in Washington state in 2022 was approximately $84,000, suggesting that despite its growth, Cougar's median income ($65,024) remains below the state average.
These trends suggest that while Cougar is experiencing gradual diversification and economic growth, it is still in the early stages of aligning with broader state-wide demographic and economic patterns. The community appears to be in a transitional phase, potentially moving towards increased diversity and economic development in the coming years.
