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METRO AREA

Bellingham Metro

Bellingham, WA · 1 counties · 236,392 residents (2025 est.) · 2,107.949 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#40Most expensive homesof 925$585,800
The short version

Bellingham has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,784. Population has grown 38% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $585,800. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 115%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
230,503
+38%since 2000
from 166,814 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
109 / sq mi
+38%since 2000
from 79 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
+13%since 2000
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:236,392 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
118K148K179K210K241K1990201020202024Bellingham
2024231K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,784
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,005 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,361
+127%since 2000
from $20,025 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.6%
+24.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+5%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$585,800
+115%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $149,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,555
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $622 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.4% in 2000
36.3% rent
Vacancy rate
9.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.1%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.2
+92%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
85
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bellingham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.2%(143,842)
Black0.6%(1,065)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(8,687)
Asian2.8%(4,598)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.2%(35,300)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.7%(174,501)
Black0.9%(2,118)
Hispanic / Latino10.6%(24,461)
Asian4.4%(10,036)
Other8.4%(19,387)
Diversity Score50.8%(117,144)
Segregation Score15.7%(36,243)
Diversity Score
51
+140%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
16
−31%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.3%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.8%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 87.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.9%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 72.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.8%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.6%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
9.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.7%
+8.9 ptssince 2017
from 84.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 87.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BellinghamCENTRAL96,395
What's inside

1 component county

Whatcom CountyCENTRAL236,392
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Bellingham

Gainesville
Pop 226,568
Hilton Head Island
Pop 242,966
Lebanon
Pop 224,500
St. George
Pop 213,670
Places similar to Bellingham
Head to head

Compare Bellingham side by side

BELLINGHAM VS
Gainesville
Income$80,901−1%
Home value$350,400−40%
Population226,568−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
Hilton Head Island
Income$83,609+2%
Home value$437,202−25%
Population242,966+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
Lebanon
Income$83,244+2%
Home value$307,461−48%
Population224,500−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
St. George
Income$80,632−1%
Home value$510,700−13%
Population213,670−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bellingham, WA?

Bellingham, WA has about 230,503 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bellingham, WA?

The typical household in Bellingham, WA earns about $81,784 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bellingham, WA expensive?

In Bellingham, WA, the median home is worth about $585,800, and the typical rent is about $1,555 a month.

How educated are people in Bellingham, WA?

About 39.3% of adults age 25 and over in Bellingham, WA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bellingham, WA?

About 12.9% of people in Bellingham, WA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bellingham, WA grown since 1990?

Yes, Bellingham, WA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 102,723 residents, a change of about 80 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →