Median Age
35 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 22% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
17%
Bellingham
Bellingham, WA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,571
Population
92,218
Renter Mix
56% Rent
The prime location to experience the magic atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest
College
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Schools
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Outdoors
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Coastal
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Affordable
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Scenic
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Bike-Friendly
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Bikeable
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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
Demographics
Median Household Income
$61,051
Average: $88,005
Education
36,263
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
47,888
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Bellingham has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
56%
Non-Renters
44%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
32%
Other Education
68%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Bellingham, WA is $1,406 for a studio, $1,572 for one bedroom, $1,888 for two bedrooms, and $2,342 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Bellingham has increased by 1.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,572/month
610 Sq Ft
House
$3,713/month
1,186 Sq Ft
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 $1,406 - $2,342. You can expect to pay 6.8% more for groceries, 5.6% more for utilities, and 21.4% more for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Bellingham, WA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
432 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
399 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
346 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
303 Students
Silver Beach Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
349 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
623 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
597 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
600 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
579 Students
Public
Grades K-8
277 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,163 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,218 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,280 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
487 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Franklin Park
- MindPort
- Maritime Heritage Park
- Broadway Park
- Roeder Home
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Bellingham International
Top Apartments in Bellingham
Houses for Rent in Bellingham
Property Management Companies in Bellingham, WA
Landmark Real Estate Management
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19
Communities
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610
Units
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5
Cities
14 Communities in Bellingham
PTLA Real Estate Group
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33
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2,276
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9
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13 Communities in Bellingham
Yugo
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51
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10,995
Units
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41
Cities
1 Community in Bellingham
Inland Group
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36
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5,820
Units
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33
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1 Community in Bellingham
Coast Property Management
-
61
Communities
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7,189
Units
-
31
Cities
1 Community in Bellingham
11Residential - Woodland Crossing
-
25
Communities
-
2,524
Units
-
21
Cities
1 Community in Bellingham
Living in Bellingham
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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.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.