What BestPlaces Users Say about Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington is a charming city located in the Pacific Northwest, known for its natural beauty, thriving arts scene, and diverse community. With a population of over 90,000, it offers a mix of small-town charm and big-city amenities. Many people are drawn to Bellingham for its access to outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and water sports, as well as its proximity to Seattle and Vancouver, BC. However, like any city, it has its pros and cons. The following user reviews provide a diverse perspective on living in Bellingham.
According to John D., "Bellingham is a fantastic place to live. It's a tight-knit community with a strong focus on sustainability and the environment. I love being able to go hiking or kayaking in the morning and then grab a delicious meal at one of the local restaurants in the evening. It's also great to have easy access to bigger cities like Seattle when I want a change of pace."
On the other hand, Sarah M. has a different viewpoint. "I moved to Bellingham a year ago and I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed. The job market is limited and the cost of living is higher than I expected. The downtown area is cute, but there's not much to do outside of that. Plus, the constant rain can be draining. I'm considering moving back to the East Coast."
Another resident, Lisa T., shares her thoughts, "Bellingham is a wonderful place to raise a family. The schools are top-notch and there are plenty of family-friendly activities and events. We also love the small-town feel and being surrounded by nature. However, it can be a bit isolating for young adults. I wish there were more opportunities for socializing and meeting new people."
One reviewer, Mark B., sums up the pros and cons of living in Bellingham, saying, "I've lived in Bellingham for 10 years now and overall, I really enjoy it. The natural beauty is unbeatable and the community is welcoming. However, the cost of housing has skyrocketed in recent years and the traffic can be a nightmare during peak times. It's a trade-off, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons."
Overall, the reviews about living in Bellingham are mixed, with some residents praising its outdoor amenities and community feel, while others express concerns about job opportunities and costs. Ultimately, it seems that Bellingham may be a great fit for those who enjoy a slower pace of life and being surrounded by nature, but may not be the best choice for those seeking a bustling city with endless job opportunities.
based on 58 ReviewsGet to know Bellingham with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Bellingham
kid's - 6/10/2014
I have lived here for 17 years this month and I have lived in 11 different state's in my life and I can honestly say the people here are rude and i was told their was a curse put on this place in the late 1800's because a group of people came here and were working in a mine shaft on Fairhaven and it collapsed and 30 people were stuck in the mine and not one person in this town helped them because of food shortage, so wrong in so many way's so they put a curse on this town saying that if you leave here you will come back and if you are born here you will come back now weather this is true or not???? iv'e moved twice and came back it's the longest place iv'e ever lived and their is nothing for kid's to do here skate parks no toy's r us and to me that says it all! wonder why crime is so high? kid's have nothing to do here it's sad it rains 9 months of the year and you best watch your kids because sex offenders flock here because of our laws when it pertains to them, thieves,drugs,
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Spokane - 2/15/2014
i'm just trying to reply to a comment on the blessings of segregated communities. Bellingham
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Retirement Community - 9/7/2013
This city is quickly becoming a retirement community for the rich. There are so many retirees moving here and paying cash for everything, that it is driving the local cost of living up, yet the local wages and job opportunities can't keep up. The traffic is horrible due to all of the Canadians coming down to shop, and if you have something you need to get from the store on a weekend you had better plan on spending at least an hour at the store because of crowds and lines. The local Costco has even had to hire police officers to monitor the parking lot due to fights over parking
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weather/climate - 2/13/2013
Love this area, especially in Summer and parts of Spring/Autumn. But to be honest it rains alot here. Then when it isn't raining, there will be clouds and cold. I've endured for 22 years, but looking for more sunshine and
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the weather - 9/18/2012
I love the weather in Bellingham. If you don't like cloudy cool days, then feel free to live elsewhere. I hike, bike and sail, and the weather never stops me from being outside. Dress for it and go. There is nothing like a hike in the mountains with water dripping off of the trees, the shadowy forest dripping with moss and ferns with a million shades of green. I love it. The sunny days are much appreciated due to all the overcast days, but I think the climate is perfect.
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Life in Bellingham - 8/14/2012
Bellingham is a wonderful place to live with an active outdoor community, with lots of different options for recreation in both salt and fresh water, trails and hiking and a diverse cultural experience. Due to the proximity of Vancouver B.C., and Seattle, WA, Bellingham offers lots of variations on the Arts and culinary excursions!! If you can handle the wet months, the summers and fall are worth the wait!
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Never Get Used to the Weather - 4/24/2012
I was born in Bellingham, and I've lived here for about 30 years of my life. It's a beautiful city- lots of parks, mountains, BEAUTIFUL scenery. You're close to the bay, you're close to mountains. You're within 2 hours of Canada AND Seattle. The traffic is pretty good- you can get all over town in just a short amount of time. It's idyllic!
Except it's not. Because the weather is terrible. And I say that with 30+ years of experience.
The rain isn't so bad- you get used to the rain. I have never owned an umbrella, and I don't mind getting rained on. It's the OVERCAST that's terrible. It feels like an oppressive blanket over you, always bearing down. I miss the sun so much in the winter. And the summers are all-too-short. You get maybe 3 months of summer if you're lucky. Last summer lasted about 3 weeks. And that was "summer". It never got very warm, and then the clouds were back.
I love snow, but we don't get much of that. It
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Hard to make it work - 10/17/2011
My wife and I have lived here for over six years now and we both have really struggled with it. We are outdoors people and moved up here from Southern California to experience a more outdoors style of life. The fact is, is that we have done considerably less outdoors activities since moving here, than we did when living in Socal. That includes rock climbing, hiking,biking, just being in the outdoors. Seem counter intuitive? It's the weather. The constant drizzly weather just makes you want to sit on the couch. We have both gained considerable weight-even though we are health nuts-and are totally out of shape. We were both pretty ripped before coming up here and were always active. We would do more in a month than we do in about two years here.
The paradox is that we love the town, very like minded people, love the culture here, but on an average day off, there isn't jack squat I am motivated to do as far as outdoors stuff. Sure they have beautiful greenbelts and such but it
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Beauty is only skin deep - 7/7/2011
Wonderful scenery, if you happen to be into hiking, although the pictures you will see on travel sites or Google Images are somewhat misleading, because it is overcast and/or raining here a good portion of the time. But the social vibe is aloof (including the college one), and you will run completely out of things to do in about a month. Don't plan on making a ton of friends if you move here. That's actually true of most of the northwest, but seems more true in a smaller-but-not-small city like
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Bellingham, WA Traffic Lights - 12/5/2009
Bellingham, WA has some of the dumbest traffic lights EVER! If you enjoy spending most of the time you are in your car idling at stop lights, then Bellingham is the place for you. Other than the their stupid dumb ass traffic light situation, Bellingham is a lovely community with decent
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