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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Bellingham Metro

Bellingham, WA · 1 counties · 226,847 residents · 2,107.949 sq mi
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The short version

Bellingham has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $65,420. Population has grown 36% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $369,000.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.2
US median: 38.8
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
226,847
+36%since 2000
from 166,814 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
108 / sq mi
+36%since 2000
from 79 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
38.2
+12%since 2000
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
118K148K179K210K241K1990201020202024Bellingham
2024231K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,420
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,005 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,241
+66%since 2000
from $20,025 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
43.8%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.2%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$369,000
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $149,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,119
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $622 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
61.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.4% in 2000
38.3% rent
Afford Score
5.6
+51%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic75.1%(170,385)
Black1%(2,221)
Hispanic / Latino10.1%(22,825)
Asian4.4%(9,952)
Other7.3%(16,509)
Diversity Score49%(111,195)
Segregation Score23%(52,062)
Diversity Score
49
+132%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.7%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+64%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 72.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
37.0%
−26.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.9%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$350,400−5%
Population226,568−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
Hilton Head Island
Income$83,609+28%
Home value$437,202+18%
Population242,966+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
Lebanon
Income$83,244+27%
Home value$307,461−17%
Population224,500−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLINGHAM VS
St. George
Income$80,632+23%
Home value$510,700+38%
Population213,670−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bellingham, WA?

Bellingham, WA has about 226,847 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bellingham, WA?

The typical household in Bellingham, WA earns about $65,420 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 $369,000, and the typical rent is about $1,119 a month.

How educated are people in Bellingham, WA?

About 35.3% 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 13.9% 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 99,067 residents, a change of about 78 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 →