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CITY · 2010 ACS

Bellingham

Washington · 80,885 residents · 28.198 sq mi
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The short version

Bellingham has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $38,136. Population has grown 20% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $305,500. At a median age of 31.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than the Washington median. 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.3
US median: 37.2
More educated
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
80,885
+20%since 2000
from 67,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,868 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 2,382 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
31.3
+3%since 2000
from 30.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
48K61K73K85K98K1990201020202024Bellingham
202493K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,136
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,530 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,288
+20%since 2000
from $19,483 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
22.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
21.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information15.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$305,500
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $148,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$790
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $613 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
31.3%
−16.9 ptssince 2000
from 48.2% in 2000
54.3% rent
Vacancy rate
7.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
34.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
8.0
+75%since 2000
from 4.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bellingham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.9%(57,684)
Black0.9%(622)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(3,111)
Asian4.2%(2,832)
Other0%
Diversity Score23.7%(15,914)
2010
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(65,907)
Black1.3%(1,015)
Hispanic / Latino7%(5,665)
Asian5.1%(4,086)
Other4.2%(3,431)
Diversity Score39.2%(31,693)
Diversity Score
39
+65%since 2000
from 24 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 33.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 88.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
13.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.4 min
+44%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
69.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 67.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
5.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
7.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
4.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
11.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
32.9%
−31.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.1%
−38.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Compare Bellingham to nearby cities

BELLINGHAM VS
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Income$87,579+130%
Home value$549,300+80%
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BELLINGHAM VS
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Home value$596,600+95%
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BELLINGHAM VS
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Home value$477,200+56%
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BELLINGHAM VS
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Home value$696,700+128%
Population18,080−81%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bellingham, Washington?

Bellingham, Washington has about 80,885 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bellingham, Washington?

The typical household in Bellingham, Washington earns about $38,136 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 $305,500, and the typical rent is about $790 a month.

How educated are people in Bellingham, Washington?

About 37.4% 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 21.6% of people in Bellingham, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bellingham, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Bellingham, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28,607 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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