Bellingham, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 93,438 Household income: $66,755 Rent: $1,577

Overview

Total population

93,438

Rent

$1,577

Year built

1986

Household income

$66,755

Per capita income

$42,947

Poverty rate

18.6%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

62.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

93,438

Adults over 25

60,780

Total households

41,500

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$66,755

Per capita income

$42,947

Poverty rate

18.6%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

62.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,577

Year built

1986

Households that rent

55.4%

Households that own

44.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

79.1%

Black

1.3%

Asian

5.3%

Two or more races

9.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

85.3%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

14.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25%

High school graduate or GED

15.4%

Some college or associate degree

11.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

48.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Bellingham, WA with: Washington State United States

Bellingham, WA

Total population93,438

Rent$1,577

Year built1986

Household income$66,755

Per capita income$42,947

Poverty rate18.6%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBellingham, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	93,438	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,577	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1986	1985	1980
Household income	$66,755	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$42,947	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.6%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Bellingham, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Bellingham, WA

Bellingham is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Bellingham, the typical monthly rent is $1,577 and the typical household income is $66,755. Rent here is lower than Washington and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Washington and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 18.6%, which is higher than in both Washington and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 55.4% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 62.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 48.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is similar to Washington and higher than the national rate.

Bellingham, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Bellingham, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Bellingham, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,577	8 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$66,755	24 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	18.6%	25 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	16 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Bellingham, WA

Rent

In rent comparisons, Bellingham comes in 8th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, rents vary from $1,117 in Yakima, WA to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

For household income, Bellingham ranks 24th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, incomes range from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Bellingham is ranked 25th among 25 major areas. Across Washington, poverty runs from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Bellingham ranks 16th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, unemployment ranges from 2.8% in Redmond, WA to 6.8% in Yakima, WA.

💰 Rent in Bellingham, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,577 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Bellingham, WA

Annual Household Income: $66,755

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Bellingham, WA

Estimated Rate: 18.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Bellingham, WA

In Bellingham, WA, households that rent: 22,988 (55.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	22,988	55.4%
Owner-Occupied	18,512	44.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Bellingham, WA

In Bellingham, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 14,376 (62.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	14,376	62.5%
Other renter households	8,612	37.5%
Total renter households	22,988	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Bellingham, WA

Less than High School: 15,216 people (25%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 9,354 people (15.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,739 people (11.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29,471 people (48.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 60,780

📊 Unemployment Rate in Bellingham, WA

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Carson, CA93,523 Compton, CA93,525 Redding, CA93,268 Fall River, MA93,764 Plantation, FL94,002 Livonia, MI94,058 San Marcos, CA94,078 Erie, PA94,156 O'Fallon, MO92,697 Mount Pleasant, SC92,662

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.