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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).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$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)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

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

BellinghamState medianUS median
Median home value$662,471$504,993$289,727
Median sale price$545,296$510,000$325,000
Median days on market31 days29 days51 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 →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents