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Ethel 98542

ZIP codeThe kind of area this report covers. Neighborhood areas nest inside each other, from broad districts down to small pockets.WashingtonStrong seller's market
Market temperatureA 0 to 100 score comparing this area with every similar area nationwide each month. 0 is the strongest buyer's market, 100 the strongest seller's market.Strong seller's market · 97
Buyer's marketBalancedSeller's market
$418K
Median sale priceThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.
+11.2%
1-yr changeHow much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.
10
Sales (12 mo)How many homes sold here in the last 12 months. More sales make the other numbers more reliable.
$407K
Median valueThe middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.

Deed records through Apr 2026 · Quarterly intervals (lower sales volume)Counties take time to publish deeds, so the newest months can be incomplete and may shift as more records arrive.

Market Trends

Market temperature (0–100)How the 0 to 100 market score moved over time. It blends price growth, sales pace, how often homes change hands, and seller profits.Temperature
20162018201920202021202320242026
Sale pricesThe middle sale price each month, counting normal open-market sales. The average runs above the median when a few expensive sales pull it up. Bars show how many homes sold.MedianSales
20162018201920202021202320242026
Growth (year over year)How much prices and sales counts changed since the same time last year, using a 3-month average to smooth out noise. Above the dashed line means growth.PriceSales
20162018201920202021202320242026
Price per square footThe middle price per square foot, for sales where the size is known. It adjusts for homes being different sizes.$/ft²
20162018201920202021202320242026
Sale premium vs estimated valueHow sale prices compare with our estimated values at the time of sale. Above the dashed line, homes sold for more than the models expected — a sign of competitive bidding. Below it, buyers paid under model value.Premium
20162018201920202021202320242026
Annual turnover (share of homes sold)The share of all homes here that sold in the trailing 12 months. Higher turnover means a more liquid market where homes trade hands more often.Turnover
20162018201920202021202320242026
Buyer mixWho is buying. Cash means no mortgage was recorded, investor means the buyer looked like an investor, and flip means the home resold within a year.CashInvestorFlip resale
20162018201920202021202320242026
Financing (share of purchase price)For buyers who borrowed: the middle share of the price they financed, and the middle share they paid up front.Loan (LTV)Down payment
20162018201920202021202320242026
Sellers who sold at a gainThe share of sellers each month who sold for more than they originally paid.Sold at gain
20162018201920202021202320242026
Typical hold before sellingThe middle number of years sellers owned their home before selling.Median hold
20162018201920202021202320242026
Median annualized return at resaleThe middle yearly gain sellers earned, spread across the years they owned the home. Only counts homes held at least a year.Annualized gain
20162018201920202021202320242026
Preforeclosure filingsForeclosure notices filed each month. A rise can be an early sign that more owners are struggling. Auction stage counts the filings that reached a scheduled foreclosure auction.FilingsAuction stage
201720222026

Housing Stock

HomesHow many homes we have records for in this area.182
Median value (AVM)The middle estimated value of all homes here, not just the ones that recently sold.$407K
Median sizeThe middle home size here, measured in square feet.1,540 ft²
Median bedroomsThe middle bedroom count for homes here.3
Median year builtThe middle build year for homes here. A recent year means most housing is newer.1977
Single familyThe share of homes here that are single-family houses.71%

Equity & Ownership

Equity rich (LTV ≤ 50%)The share of owners who owe half or less of what their home is worth, meaning they hold a lot of equity.58%
Underwater (LTV ≥ 125%)The share of owners who owe at least 25% more than their home is worth.4.7%
Owner occupiedThe share of homes lived in by their owner rather than rented out or left empty.76%
Company ownedThe share of homes owned by a company or trust instead of a person.7.7%
Median loan-to-valueThe middle share of home value still owed on loans across all owners here.42%
Typical ownership tenureHow long the typical owner here has held their home.6.9 yrs

CommunityThese are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.98
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.108
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.184

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.92%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.12%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.12%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.1.5%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.976
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.68 / mi²
Median household incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$80K
Average household incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$89K
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.51°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.48 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.35%

Market metrics are derived from recorded arms-length deeds and refreshed nightly. Temperature blends price momentum, sales velocity, turnover and resale outcomes, ranked against all ZIP codes nationally.

How Ethel 98542 compares

By median home value, Ethel 98542 is the 7th most expensive of 20 ZIP codes in Lewis County, and its typical home is worth more than 59% of all homes in Lewis County.

Home values in Ethel 98542

Share of homes at each estimated value.

Median
$150K$790K
ZIP codes in Lewis County ranked by median home value
#Lewis CountyMedian valueHomes
1Silver Creek 98585$454K225
2Toledo 98591$439K1,938
3Salkum 98582$436K161
4Curtis 98538$432K138
5Cinebar 98533$426K185
6Chehalis 98532$419K8,870
7Ethel 98542$407K182
8Winlock 98596$406K2,866
9Napavine 98565$398K164
10Onalaska 98570$390K2,066
11Packwood 98361$380K1,783
1298522$374K274
13Centralia 98531$367K8,645
14Mineral 98355$339K137
15Glenoma 98336$319K474
16Vader 98593$308K561
17Morton 98356$284K1,475
18Mossyrock 98564$276K2,756
19Pe Ell 98572$250K615
20Randle 98377$240K1,388

About the Ethel 98542 market

What is the median home price in Ethel 98542, WA?

The median sale price in Ethel 98542, WA is $418,000 (data through April 2026), based on deeds recorded with the county. That is up 11.2% from a year earlier.

How many homes sell in Ethel 98542, WA each year?

10 homes sold in Ethel 98542, WA over the last 12 months (data through April 2026). TopHap counts recorded arm's-length deeds, not listings, so the figure is not affected by which brokerage handled the sale.

Is Ethel 98542, WA a buyer's or seller's market?

Ethel 98542, WA is currently a strong seller's market, scoring 97 out of 100 on TopHap's market temperature index (data through April 2026). The score weighs sales velocity and price direction; above 60 favours sellers, below 40 favours buyers.

How many homes are there in Ethel 98542, WA?

Ethel 98542, WA contains 182 residential properties, with a median of 1,540 square feet, 3 bedrooms, built around 1977. The median TopHap Estimate is $407K.

How does Ethel 98542, WA compare to the rest of Lewis County?

By median home value, Ethel 98542, WA is the 7th most expensive of 20 ZIP codes in Lewis County. Its typical home is worth more than 59% of all homes in Lewis County. Chehalis 98532 ranks just above it and Winlock 98596 just below. The ranking is rebuilt nightly from the county assessor record of every home in each area.

Do people own or rent in Ethel 98542, WA?

76% of homes in Ethel 98542, WA are owner-occupied. 8% are held by a company rather than an individual.

How much equity do owners in Ethel 98542, WA hold?

58% of mortgaged homes in Ethel 98542, WA are equity-rich, meaning the loan balance is under half the home's value. 4.7% owe more than the home is worth.

Nearby markets

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