United States › Washington › Bellingham CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Bellingham Washington · 52,278 residents · 28.2 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Bellingham is home to 52,278 people in Washington. Owners hold 51% of the housing stock. About 28% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The population has fallen 22% since 2000. Households here earn about 21% less than in Washington as a whole. The average commute runs 15 minutes.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 33.0
More educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 30.4 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
48K 61K 73K 85K 98K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bellingham Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $24,714
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,530 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $19,483 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 20.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$88,200
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $148,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$426
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $613 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 48.2% in 2000
49.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 85.9%(57,684)
Hispanic / Latino 4.6%(3,111)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 93.8%(49,054)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(1,210)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 43 more ancestry groups with data vs 33.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 88.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 11.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 50.6%(20,194)
Women 15+
Never married 45.4%(19,677)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 19.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 73.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 33.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 26.5%(1,045)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.7%(973)
Share of the 3,939 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Bellingham, Washington? Bellingham, Washington has about 52,278 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Bellingham, Washington? The typical household in Bellingham, Washington earns about $24,714 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bellingham, Washington expensive? In Bellingham, Washington, the median home is worth about $88,200, and the typical rent is about $426 a month.
How educated are people in Bellingham, Washington? About 28.2% of adults age 25 and over in Bellingham, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bellingham, Washington? About 16.7% of people in Bellingham, Washington live below the federal poverty line.
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