The Town FilesLynden, Washington
City in Whatcom County · population 15,749 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $596,600
- Household income
- $103,233
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 35.2
Lynden is a city of 15,749 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $596,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Washington towns.
How Lynden 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 Lynden is worth $596,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $103,233, which is more affordable than 36% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,707 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lynden | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $596,600 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,707 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $103,233 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lynden
| People | Lynden | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Lynden
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Lynden 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 Lynden itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Lynden
9 public schools with 3,912 students, about 19.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynden High School | 9-12 | 968 | 22.0 |
| Lynden Middle School | 6-8 | 705 | 19.6 |
| Fisher Elementary School | K-5 | 518 | 15.7 |
| Vossbeck Elementary School | K-5 | 479 | 15.5 |
| Isom Elementary School | K-5 | 414 | 16.6 |
| Lynden Academy | K-12 | 401 | 33.4 |
| Meridian Middle School | 6-8 | 359 | 16.3 |
| Lynden Student Services | PK-PK | 68 | 34.0 |
| IMPACT Reengagement Program | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lynden
- Everson, WA5.3 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Ferndale, WA9.1 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA12.1 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Birch Bay, WA13.3 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
- Blaine, WA13.6 mi · 5,884 people · home $549,600
- Bellingham, WA13.6 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Peaceful Valley, WA13.9 mi · 3,015 people · home $317,800
- Geneva, WA14.3 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
Lynden questions
Is Lynden, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lynden scores better for retirees than 52% of Washington towns and quieter than 28%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Lynden?
The median owner-occupied home in Lynden is valued at $596,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,233, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,707 a month.
What is the weather like in Lynden?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Lynden get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Lynden 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)