Bellingham

City Profile Image
The historic Old City Hall, built in 1892, serves as the Whatcom Museum
The Bellingham Cider Company, a craft cider producer and restaurant, is located in the Waterfront District

Bellingham, WA Area Guide

The prime location to experience the magic atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest

College Schools Outdoors Coastal Affordable Scenic Bike-Friendly Bikeable

Between Mount Baker and Bellingham Bay, this Pacific Northwest city combines outdoor recreation with a welcoming downtown atmosphere. Western Washington University's campus brings energy to the community of 94,720 residents. The rental market remains steady, with average rents ranging from $1,342 for studios to $3,116 for four-bedroom units, showing year-over-year increases between 0.6% and 3.5%. The Fairhaven Historic District offers character-filled apartments near local shops, while downtown features converted industrial spaces now home to residential units.

Whatcom Falls Park spans 241 acres with four waterfalls and an extensive trail network. The historic Mount Baker Theatre, dating to 1927, anchors the local arts scene. The waterfront district continues to expand with new residential developments and improved public spaces along Bellingham Bay. Located midway between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., Bellingham offers easy access to both cities. The local brewing community includes established names like Boundary Bay Brewery, while community events like the annual Ski to Sea race showcase the region's recreational opportunities.

Explore the City

City Profile Image

The historic Old City Hall, built in 1892, serves as the Whatcom Museum

The Bellingham Cider Company, a craft cider producer and restaurant, is located in the Waterfront District

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Bellingham, WA is $1,390 for a studio, $1,557 for one bedroom, $1,872 for two bedrooms, and $2,335 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Bellingham has increased by 2.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,557/month
610 Sq Ft
House
$3,758/month
1,171 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,777/month
798 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Bellingham, WA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Bellingham, WA is 22.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Bellingham is 38.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,390 - $2,335. You can expect to pay 6.8% more for groceries, 5.6% more for utilities, and 21.4% more for transportation.

Compare Cities

$

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Bellingham, WA is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

60 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Some Transit

36 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

64 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Geneva Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Parkview Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Wade King Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Lowell Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Columbia Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Kulshan Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Fairhaven Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Whatcom Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Shuksan Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Lummi Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

Sehome High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Bellingham High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Squalicum High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Meridian High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Home Port Learning Center

Public

Grades 6-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Franklin Park
  • MindPort
  • Maritime Heritage Park
  • Broadway Park
  • Roeder Home

Airports

  • Bellingham International

Top Apartments in Bellingham

Houses for Rent in Bellingham

Property Management Companies in Bellingham, WA

Living in Bellingham

Highlights

-

Western Washington University campus, Bellingham Farmers Market, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Homeskillet, Boulevard Park, Whatcom Falls, Mallard Ice Cream

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.