Cl Bellingham (2024)

FAQs

Why is Bellingham so expensive? ›

Why is housing so expensive in Bellingham? There was a lag between population growth and home construction. Housing prices are driven by the regional as well as the local economy. Up and down the I-5 corridor, home values have increased as the region attracted high-paying jobs and subsequent population growth.

Population trends

Among Bellingham residents, there is a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.5% and a rental vacancy rate of 2.7% from a total of 37,673 units.

One of the most compelling reasons to make Bellingham your home is its unparalleled natural beauty. Surrounded by the Salish Sea, the North Cascades, and the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham offers stunning vistas at every turn.

Bellingham, WA housing is 43% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 23% more in Bellingham, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 23% more .

Bellingham Demographics

White: 80.83% Two or more races: 7.81%

Bellingham's living wage for an individual with no dependents is $23.52 per hour, working full time. For an individual with one dependent the living wage is $41.99 per hour.

Rising rents, escalating inflation and poor access to health care are pushing more seniors onto the streets. According to Whatcom County's annual Point in Time Census, since 2019, the number of homeless people 60 and older has increased 141% to 164 people.

The overall cost of living is 20.2% lower in Bellingham than Seattle.

We're often asked about the best neighborhoods in Bellingham. Edgemoor, South Hill, Lake Whatcom and Barkley Village are all popular choices.

Is Bellingham as rainy as Seattle? ›

Bellingham receives an average annual rainfall of 34.84 inches (885 mm), which is slightly less than nearby Seattle. November is typically the wettest month, with numerous frontal rainstorms.

Poverty & Diversity

18.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Bellingham, WA (16.3k out of 87.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%.

The per capita income in Bellingham in 2018 was $40,287, which is upper middle income relative to Washington and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $161,148 for a family of four. However, Bellingham contains both very wealthy and poor people as well. Bellingham is a very ethnically-diverse city.