Water damage restoration · Auburn, Washington
Water damage restoration in Auburn, WA
Burst pipe, failed water heater, or storm water? Auburn-area ZIPs: 49 flood claims since 1981[1]; 33% of homes built before 1980[2]. Request help from local restoration crews. Auburn, in King County and Pierce County — ZIPs 98092, 98001, 98002, counts 86,301 residents (2025 estimate)[3].
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The Auburn water damage picture in brief
- Population (2025 est.)
- 86,301[3]-2.4% since 2020
- County
- King / Pierce[3]city spans more than one county
- Land area
- 29.8 sq mi[4]
- Flood-insurance (NFIP) claims, local ZIPs
- 49 since 1981[1]$1,045,654 paid across 36 claims · ZIP 98092, 98001, 98002
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 0[5]2016–2025
- Federal disaster declarations incl. flooding, King Co.
- 11[6]of 18 total declarations
- Homes built before 1980
- 33%[2]the 5th-lowest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover
- Households renting
- 39%[2]2020–2024
What the local data means for water damage in Auburn
Auburn is one of the most established suburbs tracked here — 86,301 people (2025 estimate), down just 2.4% since 2020[3]. It covers 29.8 square miles (2,894 residents per square mile, the 15th densest), spans King County and Pierce County, in ZIP codes 98092, 98001, 98002[4].
Auburn mixes 15% of homes built since 2010 and 33% before 1980[2]: new supply lines and water heaters in one house, aging pipe and original valves in the next — so where a leak starts depends a lot on the address.
3 ZIP codes cover Auburn — 98092 (47% of the city's land), 98001 (28% of the city's land), 98002 (24% of the city's land)[7].
The closest tracked neighbours are Kent (5.9 mi N), Federal Way (6.0 mi W) and Puyallup (9.5 mi SW)[4].
49 flood-insurance claims have come from Auburn-area ZIP codes (98092, 98001, 98002) since 1981, and $1,045,654 has been paid on them (about $29,046 per paid claim)[1]. 2025 was the worst year, with 10 claims. That is the 7th-most of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover; for comparison, Kent (60), Federal Way (23), and Puyallup (169). Of the 48 claims rated in a flood zone, 22 were in FEMA's high-risk areas (zones A or V) and 25 outside them (zones B, C or X), with 1 in undetermined zone D[1][8] — flooding here is not only a high-risk-zone problem.
By month of loss, Auburn-area flood claims cluster in January (7), February (9), and December (17) — 33 of 49 dated claims[1].
No flood or flash-flood reports fall within 10 miles of central Auburn for 2016–2025[5]. Countywide: 11 flood declarations since 2000, latest Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906, 2025)[6].
33% of Auburn's 31,800 housing units predate 1980[2] — the 5th-lowest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover (Kent (39%), Federal Way (40%), and Puyallup (39%)). In newer houses, check fittings, washer hoses and the water-heater pan first — and any builder warranty.
61% of Auburn households own their home[2], so most claims and rebuilds here are coordinated by the owner.
Out of the 15 suburbs on this site, Auburn has the fewest flood reports nearby (0, tied with 3 other suburbs)[5] and the 2nd-lowest median home value ($547,900)[2].
How a leak spreads inside a wall
Leaked water spreads outward and wicks up drywall the longer it runs.
water damage help in Auburn: what to do next
Water damage restoration contractors taking requests around Auburn cover ZIP codes 98092, 98001, 98002.
Before reaching out: what a restoration crew does first
Shared walls and ceilings: Auburn homes by building type
42%[2] of Auburn's homes share walls, floors or ceilings with a neighbour (multi-unit buildings alone: 36%, the 4th-lowest multi-unit share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover). Water crosses those lines: in an attached or stacked unit, tell the neighbour and the association or landlord right away, and check whose policy covers which part of the damage.
After detached houses, the biggest group is 50 or more units: 2,448 of 31,800 housing units[2].
Auburn also has 2,104 mobile homes (6.6%); for a leak under one, ask for a crew that works on manufactured homes.
| Building type | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | 16,247 | 51.1% | ±713 |
| Attached house (townhouse, rowhouse) | 1,951 | 6.1% | ±355 |
| Duplex (2 units) | 1,066 | 3.4% | ±371 |
| 3–4 units | 2,211 | 7.0% | ±366 |
| 5–9 units | 2,005 | 6.3% | ±373 |
| 10–19 units | 1,810 | 5.7% | ±350 |
| 20–49 units | 1,922 | 6.0% | ±383 |
| 50 or more units | 2,448 | 7.7% | ±366 |
| Mobile home | 2,104 | 6.6% | ±359 |
| Boat, RV, van, etc. | 36 | 0.1% | ±42 |
Margins of error are the Census Bureau’s 90% intervals; small categories in small cities are rough.
The Auburn numbers behind this page
| Measure | Auburn | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 0 | 1 | 1 fewer |
| Median home value | $547,900 | $686,900 | 20% lower |
| Built before 1980 | 33% | 39% | 6 pts lower |
| Renter-occupied | 39% | 45% | 5 pts lower |
| Owner-occupied | 61% | 55% | 5 pts higher |
| NFIP flood claims (area ZIPs) | 49 | 46 | 3 more |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 | 6 years newer |
Sorted by largest difference. Each median is the middle value across the covered Seattle-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | NFIP claims | Flood reports ≤10 mi | Built before 1980 | Renting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 49 | 0 | 33% | 39% |
| Kent 5.9 mi | 60 | 2 | 39% | 43% |
| Federal Way 6.0 mi | 23 | 1 | 40% | 45% |
| Puyallup 9.5 mi | 169 | 0 | 39% | 48% |
| Renton 12.1 mi | 66 | 2 | 39% | 46% |
| Lakewood 17.8 mi | 46 | 0 | 59% | 52% |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year | Outside high-risk zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98092 | 27 | $806,682 | 2025 (6) | 13 of 27 |
| 98001 | 11 | $159,423 | 2025 (4) | 3 of 10 |
| 98002 | 11 | $79,549 | 1991 (2) | 9 of 11 |
ZIPs extend past city limits. Outside high-risk zones: claims rated in zone B, C or X, of the claims that carry a zone.
| Year | Claims |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| Month | Claims |
|---|---|
| January | 7 |
| February | 9 |
| March | 2 |
| April | 4 |
| August | 2 |
| September | 2 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 5 |
| December | 17 |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Auburn's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 98092 | 47% | 33% |
| 98001 | 28% | 44% |
| 98002 | 24% | 99% |
Auburn water damage questions
Do I need flood insurance in Auburn?
Homeowners policies exclude outside floodwater[9], and Auburn-area ZIPs have 13 NFIP claims in just the last ten years[1].
Which Auburn ZIP codes do these crews cover?
98092, 98001, and 98002[7], in King County. Nearby pages: Kent (5.9 mi), Federal Way (6.0 mi), and Puyallup (9.5 mi)[4].
Which Auburn ZIP code has the most flood claims?
98092, with 27 NFIP claims and $806,682 paid[1].
My Auburn home is fairly new — could the plumbing fixtures and water heater still be under warranty?
Possibly: 15% of Auburn's housing units were built in 2010 or later[2], the 4th-highest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover. Check your closing paperwork for warranties before paying for a repair.
Sources
- OpenFEMA NFIP claims
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (keyless bulk)
- Census population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Gazetteer 2025
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- OpenFEMA disaster declarations
- Census 2020 ZCTA–place file
- FEMA, Flood Zones (link unverified)
- FEMA FloodSmart (link unverified)
Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.