The Town FilesMarietta-Alderwood, Washington
Community in Whatcom County · population 4,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $547,100
- Household income
- $76,019
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.3
Marietta-Alderwood is a community of 4,015 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $547,100, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Washington towns, more seaside character than 90% of Washington towns, easier by car than 88% of Washington towns.
How Marietta-Alderwood 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 Marietta-Alderwood is worth $547,100, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 7.2 times the median household income of $76,019, which is more affordable than 9% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,496 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marietta-Alderwood | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $547,100 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,496 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $76,019 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.2× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marietta-Alderwood
| People | Marietta-Alderwood | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Marietta-Alderwood
July highs average 72.7°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 34.7 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 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Marietta-Alderwood 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 Marietta-Alderwood itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Marietta-Alderwood
- Bellingham, WA4.6 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Ferndale, WA4.8 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Geneva, WA7.5 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Sudden Valley, WA10.6 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
- Lynden, WA12.1 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Everson, WA12.6 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Birch Bay, WA12.7 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
- Blaine, WA16.3 mi · 5,884 people · home $549,600
Marietta-Alderwood questions
Is Marietta-Alderwood, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marietta-Alderwood scores better for retirees than 50% of Washington towns and quieter than 27%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Marietta-Alderwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Marietta-Alderwood is valued at $547,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,019, so homes cost about 7.2 times income. Median rent is $1,496 a month.
What is the weather like in Marietta-Alderwood?
July highs average 72.7°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Marietta-Alderwood get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Marietta-Alderwood 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)