Bellingham, Washington
City Overview
As of 2007, Bellingham's population is 75,150 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 11.88 percent.
The median home cost in Bellingham is $375,200. Home appreciation the last year has been -2.01 percent.
Compared to the rest of the country, Bellingham's cost of living is 6.97% Higher than the U.S. average.
Bellingham public schools spend $5,645 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 20 students per teacher in Bellingham.
The unemployment rate in Bellingham is 3.70 percent(U.S. avg. is 4.60%). Recent job growth is Positive. Bellingham jobs have Increased by 4.46 percent.
People
The 2007 Bellingham, WA, population is 75,150. There are 2,936 people per square mile (population density).
Family in Bellingham, WA
The median age is 33. The US median is 37.6. 42.96% of people in Bellingham, WA, are married. 10.64% are divorced.
The average household size is 2.22 people. 15.05% of people are married, with children. 7.85% have children, but are single.
Race in Bellingham, WA
87.36% of people are white, 1.08% are black, 5.04% are asian, 1.53% are native american, and 5.87% claim 'Other'.
5.22% of the people in Bellingham, WA, claim hispanic ethnicity (meaning 94.78% are non-hispanic).
Bellingham People SperlingViews
Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)re: Rudest people in Washington - 5/14/2007: I beg to differ about the "rudeness" and people being "full of themselves" in Bellingham. The people are very laid back and... (read more)Rudest people in Washington: I live in Pullman, WA and I call Bellingham everyday and visit there frequently for work. I have to tell you guys this town is so pompous, so full of itself, it is the... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Economy
The unemployment rate in Bellingham, WA, is 3.70%, with job growth of 4.46%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 34.09%.
Bellingham, WA Taxes
Bellingham, WA,sales tax rate is 8.30%. Income tax is 0.00%.
Bellingham, WA Income and Salaries
The income per capita is $21,287, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $36,139.
Bellingham Economy SperlingViews
More jobs are needed for a balanced community: While I consider Bellingham to have the finest quality of life of anywhere I have been, good paying jobs are scarce. A recent influx of well-off retirees and urbanites... (read more)Bellingham, WA: One of the most beautiful places on Earth. Mid size college town with great access to lots of outdoor activities. Mountains, hiking, and even the ocean. Just a short... (read more)Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
| Unemployment Rate | 3.70% | 4.60% |
| Recent Job Growth | 4.46% | 1.40% |
| Future Job Growth | 34.09% | 11.90% |
| Sales Taxes | 8.30% | 6.00% |
| Income Taxes | 0.00% | 5.02% |
| Income per Cap. | $21,287 | $24,020 |
| Household Income | $36,139 | $44,684 |
| ESTIMATED HOUSEHOLDS BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME | | |
| Income Less Than 15K | 20.49% | 13.64% |
| Income between 15K and 25K | 14.76% | 11.21% |
| Income between 25K and 35K | 13.74% | 11.46% |
| Income between 35K and 50K | 16.11% | 15.84% |
| Income between 50K and 75K | 16.84% | 19.28% |
| Income between 75K and 100K | 8.05% | 11.53% |
| Income between 100K and 150K | 6.44% | 10.70% |
| Income between 150K and 250K | 2.76% | 4.43% |
| Income between 250K and 500K | 0.64% | 1.31% |
| Income greater than 500K | 0.17% | 0.61% |
| POPULATION BY OCCUPATION | | |
| Management, Business, and Financial Operations | 11.44% | 13.61% |
| Professional and Related Occupations | 21.97% | 20.24% |
| Service | 18.16% | 14.75% |
| Sales and Office | 28.31% | 26.74% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | 0.75% | 0.74% |
| Construction, Extraction, and Maintenance | 7.63% | 9.48% |
| Production, Transportation, and Material Moving | 11.74% | 14.44% |
Housing
The median home value in Bellingham, WA, is $375,200. Home appreciation is -2.01% over the last year. The median age of Bellingham, WA, real estate is 29 years.
Bellingham, WA Apartments and Rentals
Renters make up 49.67% of the Bellingham, WA, population. 4.95% of houses and apartments in Bellingham, WA, are unoccupied (vacancy rate).
Bellingham Housing SperlingViews
re: Housing: According to Sperlings Best Places, job growth rate in Bellingham within next ten years will be 34%. That means approximately 2.6 people for every job because half... (read more)Housing: Home prices continue to skyrocket in the Bellingham area. ... (read more)Living expenses astronomical: We are recently retired and we had considered moving to Bellingham and Northwest Washington but were stunned by the median cost of housing. And the constant rain was... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
| Median Home Age | 29 | 27 |
| Median Home Cost | $375,200 | $217,200 |
| Home Appreciation | -2.01% | 9.80% |
| Homes Owned | 45.39% | 64.07% |
| Housing Vacant | 4.95% | 14.48% |
| Homes Rented | 49.67% | 21.45% |
| Property Tax Rate | $11.30 | $13.28 |
| OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY VALUE | | |
| Less Than $20,000 | 1.30% | 3.01% |
| $20,000 to $39,999 | 1.81% | 4.37% |
| $40,000 to $59,999 | 1.10% | 5.74% |
| $60,000 to $79,999 | 1.89% | 7.07% |
| $80,000 to $99,999 | 3.13% | 8.41% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 16.09% | 19.74% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 25.84% | 14.06% |
| $200,000 to $299,999 | 29.84% | 16.59% |
| $300,000 to $399,999 | 10.07% | 8.21% |
| $400,000 to $499,999 | 3.84% | 4.53% |
| $500,000 to $749,999 | 3.97% | 4.75% |
| $1,000,000 or more | 0.45% | 1.86% |
| HOUSING UNITS BY YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT | | |
| 1999 to October 2005 | 11.50% | 10.15% |
| 1995 to 1998 | 10.51% | 6.69% |
| 1990 to 1994 | 10.28% | 6.70% |
| 1980 to 1989 | 11.64% | 14.75% |
| 1970 to 1979 | 16.79% | 17.11% |
| 1960 to 1969 | 8.02% | 12.78% |
| 1950 to 1959 | 6.13% | 11.64% |
| 1940 to 1949 | 4.98% | 6.64% |
| 1939 or Earlier | 20.17% | 13.55% |
Health
There are 225 physicians per capita in Bellingham, WA. The US average is 170.
Bellingham, WA Health Index
Air quality in Bellingham, WA is 33 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.
Water quality in Bellingham, WA is 60 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators.
Superfund index is 20 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts.
Bellingham Health SperlingViews
Friendly People: Wow I can't believe that someone would think people aren't friendly in Bellingham. I've been here almost 2 years and have found the people really... (read more)re: Quality Of Life - 12/17/2007: Bellingham, WA is a great place to live, work, and play, if you are an outdoorsy kind of person. When we first moved up here, we did ALOT of hiking. You can go hiking in... (read more)Almost perfect retirement town...: Just retired to Bellingham and it's almost perfect: university, two nearby great large cities (Vancouver & Seattle 90 minutes away), good hospital and med specialties,... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Crime
Bellingham, WA, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 5. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3.
Bellingham, WA, property crime, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10, is 6. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The US average is 3.
Bellingham Crime SperlingViews
Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)re: Rudest people in Washington - 5/14/2007: I beg to differ about the "rudeness" and people being "full of themselves" in Bellingham. The people are very laid back and... (read more)Rudest people in Washington: I live in Pullman, WA and I call Bellingham everyday and visit there frequently for work. I have to tell you guys this town is so pompous, so full of itself, it is the... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Climate
Bellingham, WA, gets 39 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 5 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 168.
On average, there are 157 sunny days per year in Bellingham, WA. The July high is around 74 degrees. The January low is 30. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 77 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.
Bellingham Climate SperlingViews
Bellingham, WA: One of the most beautiful places on Earth. Mid size college town with great access to lots of outdoor activities. Mountains, hiking, and even the ocean. Just a short... (read more)Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)re: Rudest people in Washington - 5/14/2007: I beg to differ about the "rudeness" and people being "full of themselves" in Bellingham. The people are very laid back and... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Educate
Bellingham, WA, schools spend $5,645 per student. There are 20 pupils per teacher, 322 students per librarian, and 675 children per counselor in Bellingham, WA schools.
Bellingham Education SperlingViews
Friendly People: Wow I can't believe that someone would think people aren't friendly in Bellingham. I've been here almost 2 years and have found the people really... (read more)re: Quality Of Life - 12/17/2007: Bellingham, WA is a great place to live, work, and play, if you are an outdoorsy kind of person. When we first moved up here, we did ALOT of hiking. You can go hiking in... (read more)Almost perfect retirement town...: Just retired to Bellingham and it's almost perfect: university, two nearby great large cities (Vancouver & Seattle 90 minutes away), good hospital and med specialties,... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Transportation
The average one-way commute in Bellingham, WA, takes 19 minutes. 70% of commuters drive their own car alone. 12% carpool with others. 3% take mass transit and 4% work from home.
Bellingham Transportation SperlingViews
Bellingham, WA: One of the most beautiful places on Earth. Mid size college town with great access to lots of outdoor activities. Mountains, hiking, and even the ocean. Just a short... (read more)More jobs are needed for a balanced community: While I consider Bellingham to have the finest quality of life of anywhere I have been, good paying jobs are scarce. A recent influx of well-off retirees and urbanites... (read more)Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Cost of Living
Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Bellingham, WA is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Bellingham, WA is more expensive.
Overall, Bellingham, WA cost of living is 106.97.
Bellingham Cost of Living SperlingViews
re: Housing: According to Sperlings Best Places, job growth rate in Bellingham within next ten years will be 34%. That means approximately 2.6 people for every job because half... (read more)Housing: Home prices continue to skyrocket in the Bellingham area. ... (read more)Living expenses astronomical: We are recently retired and we had considered moving to Bellingham and Northwest Washington but were stunned by the median cost of housing. And the constant rain was... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
Religion
29.37% of the people in Bellingham, WA are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 7.97% are Catholic; 9.63% are Protestant; 2.18% are LDS; 8.96% are another Christian faith; 0.31% in Bellingham, WA are Jewish; 0.14% are an eastern faith; 0.17% affilite with Islam.
Bellingham Religion SperlingViews
Friendly People: Wow I can't believe that someone would think people aren't friendly in Bellingham. I've been here almost 2 years and have found the people really... (read more)re: Quality Of Life - 12/17/2007: Bellingham, WA is a great place to live, work, and play, if you are an outdoorsy kind of person. When we first moved up here, we did ALOT of hiking. You can go hiking in... (read more)Almost perfect retirement town...: Just retired to Bellingham and it's almost perfect: university, two nearby great large cities (Vancouver & Seattle 90 minutes away), good hospital and med specialties,... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
| Percent Religious | 29.37% | 50.03% |
| Catholic | 7.97% | 21.92% |
| Protestant | 9.63% | 19.12% |
| LDS | 2.18% | 1.57% |
| Baptist | 1.77% | 8.16% |
| Episcopalian | 0.81% | 8.12% |
| Pentecostal | 2.69% | 1.89% |
| Lutheran | 2.57% | 2.81% |
| Methodist | 1.08% | 3.84% |
| Presbyterian | 0.71% | 1.33% |
| Other Christian | 8.96% | 4.66% |
| Jewish | 0.31% | 2.16% |
| Eastern | 0.14% | 0.05% |
| Islam | 0.17% | 0.54% |
Voting
53.40% of the people in Bellingham, WA are registered as Democrats. 44.58% are registered Republican. Remaining are independent: 2.02%.
Bellingham Voting SperlingViews
Friendly People : I have read some reviews about Bellingham, WA since I have lived here, 6 years now. Reviews from the local paper, from this website and other places. Some people, I... (read more)re: Rudest people in Washington - 5/14/2007: I beg to differ about the "rudeness" and people being "full of themselves" in Bellingham. The people are very laid back and... (read more)Rudest people in Washington: I live in Pullman, WA and I call Bellingham everyday and visit there frequently for work. I have to tell you guys this town is so pompous, so full of itself, it is the... (read more)Have an opinion about Bellingham? Leave a commentTo See All SperlingViews for Bellingham Click Here
