Bellingham city, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Bellingham city is a mid-sized community located in Washington. The total population is 92,367. It ranks as the 12th most populous out of 631 cities and towns in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bellingham city is 34.5 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.2 years. Only 13.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bellingham city is $65,821. This is 31% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.3%. This is 84% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $577,400. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 45.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bellingham city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

46.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.0%. Notably, 19.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bellingham city, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 631 Census-designated places in Washington. For official data, visit data.census.gov.