Bellingham, WA

Census Place

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2021 Population

90,545

0.304% 1-year decline

US Senator

Patty Murray

Democratic Party

US Senator

Maria Cantwell

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

33.5

1.82% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

19.7%

1.59% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$59,163

5.28% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$440,300

8.53% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

49,368

1.03% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Bellingham, WA had a population of 90.5k people with a median age of 33.5 and a median household income of $59,163. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Bellingham, WA declined from 90,821 to 90,545, a −0.304% decrease and its median household income grew from $56,198 to $59,163, a 5.28% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Bellingham, WA are White (Non-Hispanic) (77.4%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (5.66%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (5.11%), White (Hispanic) (4.53%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.5%).

None of the households in Bellingham, WA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

95.3% of the residents in Bellingham, WA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Bellingham, WA are Western Washington University (3,975 degrees awarded in 2021), Whatcom Community College (1,343 degrees), and Bellingham Technical College (1,134 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Bellingham, WA was $440,300, and the homeownership rate was 46.4%.

Most people in Bellingham, WA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Bellingham, WA was 2 cars per household.

United States Washington Whatcom County, WA Bellingham, WA Bellingham City PUMA, WA

Population & Diversity

Bellingham, WA is home to a population of 90.5k people, from which 95.3% are citizens. As of 2021, 9.07% of Bellingham, WA residents were born outside of the country (8.21k people).

In 2021, there were 13.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (70.1k people) in Bellingham, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 5.13k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 4.63k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

95.3%

2021 Citizenship

95.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 95.3% of Bellingham, WA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Bellingham, WA was 95.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Bellingham, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Bellingham, WA

White (Non-Hispanic)
70.1k ± 1.05k
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
5.13k ± 644
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
4.63k ± 612

9.52%

Hispanic Population

8.62k people

9.52% of the people in Bellingham, WA are hispanic (8.62k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Bellingham, WA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
242,407 ± 11,894 people
India
95,173 ± 7,527 people
China
81,169 ± 6,957 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Washington was Mexico, the natal country of 242,407 Washington residents, followed by India with 95,173 and China with 81,169.

Foreign-Born Population

9.07%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

8.21k people

9.42%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

8.56k people

As of 2021, 9.07% of Bellingham, WA residents (8.21k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Bellingham, WA was 9.42%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Bellingham, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,668 ± 270
Gulf War (2001-)
1,185 ± 325
Gulf War (1990s)
487 ± 169

Bellingham, WA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.41 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Bellingham, WA employs 49.4k people. The largest industries in Bellingham, WA are Health Care & Social Assistance (7,245 people), Educational Services (6,224 people), and Retail Trade (5,372 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($61,591), Public Administration ($55,216), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($53,510).

Males in Washington have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $65,962. The income inequality in Washington (measured using the Gini index) is 0.468, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

49.4k

2021 Value

± 1,981

1.03%

1 Year growth

± 5.75%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Bellingham, WA grew at a rate of 1.03%, from 48.9k employees to 49.4k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Bellingham, WA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (5,258 people), Management Occupations (4,946 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (4,248 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Washington (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

49.4k

2021 Value

± 1,981

1.03%

1 Year growth

± 5.75%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Bellingham, WA grew at a rate of 1.03%, from 48.9k employees to 49.4k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Bellingham, WA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (7,245 people), Educational Services (6,224 people), and Retail Trade (5,372 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Bellingham, WA, though some of these residents may live in Bellingham, WA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$40,133

Median earning men ± $2,008

$30,674

Median earning women ± $1,172

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($77,722), Information ($67,658), and Wholesale Trade ($53,869).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Information ($46,831), Construction ($45,223), and Wholesale Trade ($45,085).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Washington. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Washington.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Washington product (by dollars) was Misc. mfg. prods. with $42.2B, followed by Mixed freight ($36.4B) and Electronics ($33.3B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Washington products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Washington.

$416B

2020 Value in Washington

$982B

Projected 2050 Value in Washington

136% growth

In 2020, total outbound Washington trade was $416B. This is expected to increase 136% to $982B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Washington trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Most Common Trade Partners

Oregon
$34.7B
California
$26.5B
Texas
$12.9B

In 2020, the top outbound Washington domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Oregon with $34.7B, followed by California with $26.5B and Texas and $12.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Washington shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Washington went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 58% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.97%).

Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are the senators currently representing the state of Washington. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Washington is currently represented by 10 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Bellingham, WA. Showing the available data for Washington.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (58%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (38.8%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.97%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Washington went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 58% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.97%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Washington for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Washington

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

Patty Murray

Senator from Washington

Assumed office on January 3, 1993

Maria Cantwell

Senator from Washington

Assumed office on January 3, 2001

Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are the senators currently representing Washington.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Washington over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Washington

Washington is currently represented by 10 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Washington have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Bellingham, WA awarded 6,452 degrees. The student population of Bellingham, WA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 8,975 male students and 11,915 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Bellingham, WA are White (4,488 and 70.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (688 and 10.9%), Two or More Races (466 and 7.35%), and Asian (313 and 4.94%).

The largest universities in Bellingham, WA by number of degrees awarded are Western Washington University (3,975 and 61.6%), Whatcom Community College (1,343 and 20.8%), and Bellingham Technical College (1,134 and 17.6%).

The most popular majors in Bellingham, WA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (569 and 8.82%), General Psychology (224 and 3.47%), and General Marketing & Marketing Management (155 and 2.4%).

The median tuition cost in Bellingham, WA for a public four year colleges is $4,523 for in-state students and $10,128 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Bellingham, WA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 96.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 28.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 20,890 (43% men and 57% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 20,890 students enrolled in Bellingham, WA, 43% men and 57% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 13,766 records, of which 57.4% were women and 42.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
224 degrees awarded
Sociology
138 degrees awarded
Environmental Science
126 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Bellingham, WA was General Psychology with 224 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Bellingham, WA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Western Washington University
3,975 degrees awarded
Whatcom Community College
1,343 degrees awarded
Bellingham Technical College
1,134 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Western Washington University with 3,975 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 2,714 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Bellingham, WA, which is 0.726 times less than the 3,738 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,488 degrees mean that there were 6.52 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 688 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($4,523) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,131) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($996) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

Measure

In 2021, 0.864% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.881% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were Some college (1.41M), High School or Equivalent (1.38M), and Bachelors Degree (1.29M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Bellingham, WA was $440,300 in 2021, which is 1.8 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $405,700 to $440,300, a 8.53% increase. The homeownership rate in Bellingham, WA is 46.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Bellingham, WA have an average commute time of 18.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Bellingham, WA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Bellingham, WA is $59,163. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Bellingham, WA was Census Tract 9.02 with a value of $99,973, followed by Census Tract 8.04 and Census Tract 8.05, with respective values of $97,102 and $81,222.

Housing

Property

$440,300

Median Property Value 2021

±$13,510

$18,313

Median Property Taxes

±$1,121

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Bellingham, WA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Bellingham, WA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

46.4%

Homeownership

2021

66.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 46.4% of the housing units in Bellingham, WA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 46.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Bellingham, WA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9.02
Census Tract 8.04
Census Tract 8.05

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Bellingham, WA was Census Tract 9.02 with a value of $99,973, followed by Census Tract 8.04 and Census Tract 8.05, with respective values of $97,102 and $81,222.

The following map shows all of the places in Bellingham, WA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$59,163

Median Household Income

± $3,500

39.5k

Number of Households

± 1,806

In 2021, the median household income of the 39.5k households in Bellingham, WA grew to $59,163 from the previous year's value of $56,198.

The following chart displays the households in Bellingham, WA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Bellingham, WA is from Washington.

0.468

2021 Wage GINI in Washington

0.466

2020 Wage GINI in Washington

In 2021, the income inequality in Washington was 0.468 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.488% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Washington was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Washington in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Washington across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (67.8%)
Worked At Home (10%)
Carpooled (7.59%)

In 2021, 67.8% of workers in Bellingham, WA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10%) and those who carpooled to work (7.59%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Bellingham, WA have a shorter commute time (18.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.96% of the workforce in Bellingham, WA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Bellingham, WA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Bellingham, WA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Bellingham, WA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Bellingham, WA (16.9k out of 86k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Bellingham, WA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

95.2% of the population of Bellingham, WA has health coverage, with 51.9% on employee plans, 16.4% on Medicaid, 12.4% on Medicare, 12.9% on non-group plans, and 1.54% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Whatcom County, WA see 1092 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.27% decrease from the previous year (1106 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1383 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 204 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Whatcom County, WA.

1,092 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Whatcom County, WA

Primary care physicians in Whatcom County, WA see an average of 1,092 patients per year. This represents a 1.27% decrease from the previous year (1,106 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Whatcom County, WA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 16.1% under 18 years, 36.2% between 18 and 34 years, 32.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.1% were men and 51.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.78%

Uninsured

51.9%

Employer Coverage

16.4%

Medicaid

12.4%

Medicare

12.9%

Non-Group

1.54%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Bellingham, WA declined by 2.64% from 4.91% to 4.78%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Bellingham, WA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.