Whatcom County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Whatcom County is located in Washington with a total population of 228,432. It is the 9th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Whatcom County is 38.2 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Whatcom County is $80,989. This is 15% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $536,100. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Whatcom County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.4%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

38.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% lower 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 93.8%.