WA area data
Bellingham, WA
Aggregated across 2 ZIP codes in Bellingham.
Population: 96,998 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Bellingham, WA is $662,471 — down 0.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $545,296 after a median 31 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,953/month. 33 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with avalanche, icestorm, coastalflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$662,471
Median home value
-0.5%
1-year change
31
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $662,471
- 1-year appreciation
- -0.5%
- 3-year appreciation
- +4.6%
- 5-year appreciation
- +13.6%
- 10-year appreciation
- +97.1%
- All-time peak (2026-03)
- $673,860
- House Price Index (state)
- 588.1 (+2.2% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $545,296
- Median list price
- $537,475
- Median price per sqft
- $436
- 1-year sale-price change
- +5.2%
- Median days on market
- 31 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 68
- For-sale inventory
- 318
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 99.0%
- Active listings
- 55
- 1-year forecast
- -0.3%
- Days to pending
- 37 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 124
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,953/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +1.1%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,083/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,354/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,680/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,183/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,519/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 107.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 13.1¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $17.60/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 33
- Elementary schools
- 16
- Middle schools
- 3
- High schools
- 12
- Charter schools
- 1
- School districts serving the area
- Northwest Educational Service District 189, Bellingham School District, Blaine School District
- Schools include
- Whatcom Co Detention Center, Alderwood Elementary School, Bellingham High School, Birchwood Elementary School, Columbia Elementary School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- avalanche, iceStorm, coastalFlooding, coldWave, earthquake
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- avalanche: Very High · coastalFlooding: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Very High
- FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
- includes A01
- Flood risk level
- High
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 43% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 42.8%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 1
- Nearest Superfund site
- Oeser Co (1.5 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 65.0°F
- Average high
- 69.5°F
- Average low
- 61.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 41.6 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8b (extreme annual low 15 to 20°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 31
- Days with Good air quality
- 327
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 33
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 94
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 10.1 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 20,482
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 15,502
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 6
- Nearest national park
- San Juan Island National Historical Park (30 mi)
- National parks include
- San Juan Island National Historical Park, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, North Cascades National Park
- Airports within 30 mi
- 71
- Nearest airport
- Bellingham International Airport (BLI) (3 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Bellingham International Airport (BLI) (3 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 170
- Hospitals include
- ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL, ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.5 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.5 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Poor (3.4 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +255 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,986
- Housing built before 1970
- 27.5%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 32.2%
- Median annual property tax
- $4,348
- Mean commute to work
- 16 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 81.8%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 78,155
- Average weekly wage
- $1,142
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 659
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Bellingham | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $662,471 | $504,993 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $545,296 | $510,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 31 days | 29 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,953/mo | $2,041/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $4,348 | $3,381 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Bellingham, WA?
- $662,471.
- What is the median sale price in Bellingham, WA?
- $545,296.
- How long do homes take to sell in Bellingham, WA?
- Median days on market: 31 days.
- What is typical rent in Bellingham, WA?
- Typical rent: $1,953/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Bellingham, WA?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, iceStorm, coastalFlooding, coldWave, earthquake.
- Is Bellingham, WA in a flood zone?
- High (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone A01; zones vary by location within the city.
- What is the wildfire risk in Bellingham, WA?
- Risk to homes is higher than 43% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Bellingham, WA?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Bellingham, WA?
- 1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Oeser Co, 1.5 mi.
- How many schools serve Bellingham, WA?
- 33 schools (16 elementary, 3 middle, 12 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Bellingham, WA walkable?
- Walkability index: 10.1/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in Bellingham, WA?
- Good. Median AQI: 31. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Bellingham, WA?
- Regional Price Parity: 107.5 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP codes in Bellingham
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →