United States › Washington › Bellingham CITY · 2020 ACS
Bellingham Washington · 91,482 residents · 28.2 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 91,482 people, Bellingham is a city in Washington. 44% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 33.7. This is an unusually credentialed place: 45% of adults have a four-year degree. People stay put here: 72% were in the same home a year ago. Growth has run 36% since 2000, or 24,311 more people.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
48K 61K 73K 85K 98K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bellingham Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $56,198
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,530 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $19,483 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.7%
Public administration 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.1%
Education & health services 0.2%
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$405,700
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $148,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,133
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $613 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 48.2% in 2000
55.7% rent
2.23 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 8.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 85.9%(57,684)
Hispanic / Latino 4.6%(3,111)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 74.8%(68,442)
Hispanic / Latino 9.3%(8,476)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data from 33.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 88.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 67.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 66.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
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 from 13.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25.2%(1,163)
Gulf War (1990s) 16.3%(754)
Share of the 4,622 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Bellingham, Washington? Bellingham, Washington has about 91,482 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bellingham, Washington? The typical household in Bellingham, Washington earns about $56,198 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 $405,700, and the typical rent is about $1,133 a month.
How educated are people in Bellingham, Washington? About 45.4% 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 20.0% 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 39,204 residents, a change of about 75 percent over that period.
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