The Town FilesBellingham, Washington
City in Whatcom County · population 91,482 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $627,500
- Household income
- $66,755
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 34.1
Bellingham is a city of 91,482 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $627,500, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Washington towns, hipper than 98% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Washington towns.
How Bellingham ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bellingham is worth $627,500, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 9.4 times the median household income of $66,755, which is more affordable than 1% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,577 a month. 44.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bellingham | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $627,500 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,577 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $66,755 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 44.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Bellingham
| People | Bellingham | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.5% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Bellingham
July highs average 75.1°F and January lows 34.8°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Bellingham since 1950.
Severe weather in Whatcom County since 1996
Whatcom County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 5, 2022 | Flood | DR-4635: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Whatcom County
Whatcom County had 93,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,174 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Bellingham itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Bellingham
34 public schools with 12,663 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalicum High School | 9-12 | 1,241 | 20.0 |
| Bellingham High School | 9-12 | 1,188 | 22.0 |
| Sehome High School | 9-12 | 1,175 | 23.5 |
| Whatcom Middle School | 6-8 | 639 | 17.8 |
| Kulshan Middle School | 6-8 | 599 | 18.7 |
| Fairhaven Middle School | 6-8 | 581 | 18.2 |
| Shuksan Middle School | 6-8 | 578 | 17.0 |
| Meridian High School | 9-12 | 537 | 20.7 |
| Happy Valley Elementary School | PK-5 | 468 | 18.0 |
| Geneva Elementary School | PK-5 | 424 | 18.4 |
| Northern Heights Elementary Schl | PK-5 | 420 | 16.8 |
| Parkview Elementary School | PK-5 | 387 | 16.1 |
Towns near Bellingham
- Geneva, WA3.1 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA4.6 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Sudden Valley, WA6.1 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
- Ferndale, WA8.8 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Everson, WA12.2 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Lynden, WA13.6 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Birch Bay, WA17.2 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
- Anacortes, WA19.6 mi · 17,637 people · home $696,700
Bellingham questions
Is Bellingham, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bellingham scores better for retirees than 36% of Washington towns and quieter than 14%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Bellingham?
The median owner-occupied home in Bellingham is valued at $627,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,755, so homes cost about 9.4 times income. Median rent is $1,577 a month.
What is the weather like in Bellingham?
July highs average 75.1°F and January lows 34.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Bellingham get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Bellingham in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)