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Bellingham, WA

City in Whatcom County, Washington. ZIP codes: 98225, 98229.

Population

93,438

Land area

28.2sq mi

People per sq mi

3,314

ZIP codes

2

Bellingham and its ZIP codes

Full map

Bellingham at a glance

  • Bellingham is about 28 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • It is the 12th most populous of 628 cities and towns in Washington.
  • Households here earn a median of $66,755 a year, 32% less than the Washington figure of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $627,500 (11% above Washington) and median rent is $1,577 a month.

Local data for Bellingham, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Bellingham, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$66,755

Poverty rate

18.6%

Median home value

$627,500

Median rent

$1,577/mo

Homeownership

44.6%

Bachelor's or higher

48.5%

Median age

34.1

Average commute

18.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (15,751), Irish Americans (11,766), Mexican Americans (5,978).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Whatcom County. PPP loans are for Bellingham.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$69,434

93,720 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$65,622

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.6B

FY 2026, $7,063 per person

PPP loans

$210M

2,233 loans, 24,980 jobs reported

Whatcom County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Bellingham, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone63.7%
  • Carpooled6.8%
  • Public transit3.3%
  • Walked6.9%
  • Bicycle3.8%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
  • Worked from home14.7%

Average one-way commute: 18.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Bellingham, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: avalanche

Storm events since 1996

21

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

1,497

1.9% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

75° / 35°F

35.9 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone34 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Bellingham, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

26.0%

U.S. 33.3% -7.3 pts

Diabetes

7.7%

U.S. 12.1% -4.4 pts

Smoking

10.5%

U.S. 12.8% -2.3 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.2%

U.S. 11.1% -2.9 pts

ZIP codes in Bellingham

2 in or overlapping Bellingham. Population shown

·

Cities near Bellingham

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
GenevaCensus-designated place2.3 mi1.4
Sudden ValleyCensus-designated place5.4 mi4.3
Marietta-AlderwoodCensus-designated place5.7 mi5.8
FerndaleCity9.8 mi7.2
AlgerCensus-designated place11 mi2.6
DemingCensus-designated place11 mi2.8
AcmeCensus-designated place11 mi1.5
EversonCity12 mi1.5
EdisonCensus-designated place13 mi1.3
BowCensus-designated place13 mi1.2
LyndenCity13 mi5.5
NooksackCity14 mi0.9
CusterCensus-designated place14 mi2.2
Birch BayCensus-designated place17 mi17.1
Bay ViewCensus-designated place18 mi2.6
KendallCensus-designated place19 mi2.7

Frequently asked questions

What county is Bellingham, WA in?
Bellingham is in Whatcom County, Washington.
What ZIP codes are in Bellingham, WA?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Bellingham include 98225, 98229.
What is the population of Bellingham, WA?
About 93,438 people live in Bellingham, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Bellingham?
Nearby places include Geneva (2.3 mi), Sudden Valley (5.4 mi), Marietta-Alderwood (5.7 mi), Ferndale (9.8 mi), Alger (11 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023