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
Beautiful, moderate climate, expensive but might b - 9/5/2009
Bellingham is a very nice town in a beautiful area. There are numerous city parks and many things to do nearby. For sports recreationists, it is paradise! Skiing, kayaking, fishing, biking, it does'nt get better. But it comes at a cost, cost of living is very-very high and wages are low! During the winter it rains and rains and rains and on rare occasion it snows. During the summer it rains, and sometimes is sunny and may have a few days in the high 80's and is sunny in the low 70's but only for a month or so, then rain and 55-60 degrees pretty much the rest of the year. The coldest it gets is about 15-20 above for a rare day or two. People in the area are generally friendly and very quite diverse and liberal. Definitely a melting pot of differing beliefs and types of people. If your a conservative, fellow cohorts might be hard to find. Shopping, theatre and other amenities are very good, concerts are slim to none however as there is no event center (insert whine here). It
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Beautiful Views....Nice Folks! - 8/14/2009
Bellingham WA. is really beautiful. With it's great waterfront, mountain views, lush forests, etc.
Bike riding, hiking, kayaking, sailing, all sorts of recreational activities!
Nice people everywhere you go. Great shopping, tons of interesting local stores, and all the big box stores as well.
But bring your wallet, and you better be wealthy, if you want to live here!
High rental rates, higher home costs!
But you pay for what you get! And once you pay, you get quite a lot!
Great medical services and a really high quality hospital and other local doctors!
The climate is great warm summers from June to September, But lots of rain too from October to May. Only about 2 weeks of snow fall with not too much accumulation.
All in all a great place to live, if you can afford
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Nice Weather - 4/1/2009
It rains often but the rain is usually a mist rather than a downpour. The downside (for me) is no thunderstorms. Being from the midwest I really miss them. Weather is cool and comfortable almost year round. There are very few
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how is it? - 2/26/2009
I am born and raised in southern California but a few things have just gotten out of control: traffic, smog, cost of living and the harsh temperatures in the summer. I was just wondering if anyone up there could give me a little info on your neck of the woods. I would really appreciate any info as I know no one up there.
I would like to be in a medium sized town. Not out in the “boonies” but also not downtown. Perhaps close enough to drive into Seattle to catch a game or musical or whatever. Since we just had a kid I’d like him to have a safe yard to play in. Don’t mind the rain but don’t want a lot of snow in winter.
My concerns would be:
How are the people? I find So. Cal people to be superficial and not very friendly.
How often does it rain? Is it really that bad?
Thanks a ton!
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Crimes and Jobs - 1/31/2009
Crime is up in Bellingham, WA and jobs are dropping like fly's.
Your Job report on Bellingham is way off how old is this report?
Since early 2008 the area has been on a steady losing skid. at least 3 major furniture retailer's closed their doors in 2007 along with two other major retailer's saying good bye to Bellingham, even the Restaurant chain that had been in Bellingham for decades, the "Black Angus Restaurant" closed it's door's late 2007 or early 2008 saying the business climate was not getting any better in Bellingham, a lot of long time employees were stunned. Let's see, oh yea, Bob says the local Burger King on the south side of town closed two years ago and the Popeyes Fried Chicken place closed... it had only been opened a year...the long tome centerally located KFC closed over a year ago..the owner Bob says gave a "B.S." reason for closing saying something that is rent was going up, the building still sits empty over a year later.
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Cost of living much HIGHER in Bellingham than you - 1/31/2009
You are way off on your cost of utilities being low in Bellingham, I lived in another town in another part of Washington and for 1630KWH a month my bill there was $56.50 in Bellingham where the power company is mainly owned by foreign investors according to Puget Energy my power bill for a home in bellingham using 1230KWH A MONTH(that's 400 KWH less than where I live now.
The bill would "aprx. $120.00 a month" that using 400 KWH than I use now and I am still paying $43.50 less in the same State and believe me it's going to caost B'hamer's much more the investment Power company just a short tome ago got approval for a rate hike...so your cost of living for utilities is off the mark...also for the same level ofcable/phone service/internet service provided by the same company I use, B'hamer's pay $105.92 a month, I pay $74.95 a month...that's well over 30% more than I pay...also because of the way over inflated housing prices bellingham experienced in their greedy period od
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Rain in western Washington and Bellingham - 12/14/2008
I've lived in Bellingham most of the last 30 years, but I grew up in Aberdeen, Washington. It rains twice as much as Bellingham and has a sea fog at night so you rarely see the stars. Bellingham is beautiful, but very cold on this blustery, snowy December
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Weather - 9/7/2008
If you move to Bellingham, be sure that you like months of cold rain and wind. The area is so beautiful in summer, one can be seduced by it. Sometimes it doesn't get nice and warm until JUNE. One year we had 8 weeks of fair weather and then the rain started again. After 5 years we had to leave - it just got too depressing in winter. Wonderful people though, great food, and very scenic. Great jobs for those in
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44 year old single guy wants your opionions if I s - 7/13/2008
Okay, 44 years old - not yet married but would love to meet someone special. Degree in Business, work for a large health insurer. I moved from Boise, Idaho BACK to S. California about 4 months ago - and it is just not the same. Family is here (Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, aunts, etc), but there are just too many negatives about this place and I need to leave.
Crazy people on the roads and freeways (seriously), way too crowded, way too intense, unnecessary, and way too expensive. Yes, weather is good but doesn't matter.
I am a "late starter" and need to get my career going, I need to work full time. I'm making about $41,000 here now, which is not much here, and I can only afford about $800/mo maximum in rent somewhere (such as Boise or Bellingham). I am a democrate but middle of the road. Athletic and an avid cyclist (mountain and road). But #1 will be my ability to get a good job and/or one with growth in my field (marketing, health information technology or
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