Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Bellingham, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

93,438

Median Agei

34.1

Race & Ethnicityi

White

76.2%71,196

Hispanic/Latino

10.2%9,516

Two or More

6.2%5,753

Asian

5.2%4,888

Black

1.3%1,212

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.5%501

Other

0.3%262

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%110

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%1,836

High School Diploma

12.4%7,518

Some College (<1 yr)

5.9%3,601

Some College (1+ yr)

14.8%9,001

Associate's Degree

10.6%6,441

Bachelor's Degree

28.7%17,447

Master's Degree

13.6%8,243

Professional Degree

2.9%1,785

Doctorate

3.3%1,996

HS or Higher

95.2%

BA or Higher

48.5%

Graduate+

19.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$627,500

Median Renti

$1,577

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

44.6%18,512

Renter-Occupied

55.4%22,988

Total Units

43,792

Homeownership

44.6%

Vacancy Rate

5.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.2%403

$50K–$100K

1.8%334

$100K–$150K

1.7%309

$150K–$200K

0.9%173

$200K–$300K

5.7%1,054

$300K–$500K

20.7%3,834

$500K–$1M

54.9%10,162

$1M+

12.1%2,243

Rent Distribution

Under $500

726

$500–$750

576

$750–$1,000

1,609

$1,000–$1,250

2,790

$1,250–$1,500

4,492

$1,500–$2,000

7,250

$2,000+

5,188

Year Built

2020 or later

2.1%899

2010–2019

12.6%5,517

2000–2009

16.7%7,326

1990–1999

14.7%6,436

1980–1989

11.1%4,851

1970–1979

14.3%6,272

1960–1969

5.2%2,286

1950–1959

4.3%1,870

1940–1949

2%873

1939 or earlier

17%7,462

Heating Fuel

Electricity

56.6%23,502

Utility Gas

40.2%16,680

Bottled/LP Gas

1%425

Wood

0.7%305

No Fuel

0.7%292

Other

0.4%161

Solar

0.3%115

Fuel Oil

0%20

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,755

Mean Household Incomei

$94,859

Per Capita Incomei

$42,947

Poverty Ratei

17.8%

Unemploymenti

5.6%

Labor Forcei

54,376

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.3%2,605

$10K–$15K

4.5%1,852

$15K–$20K

3.8%1,572

$20K–$25K

4%1,680

$25K–$30K

3.3%1,361

$30K–$35K

3.6%1,502

$35K–$40K

3.4%1,408

$40K–$45K

4.3%1,797

$45K–$50K

3.8%1,588

$50K–$60K

8.3%3,440

$60K–$75K

9.9%4,116

$75K–$100K

10.3%4,255

$100K–$125K

9.3%3,871

$125K–$150K

7.5%3,105

$150K–$200K

7.6%3,167

$200K+

10.1%4,181

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,202

Residentsi

3,511

Avg. Tenant Renti

$384/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

18 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing504 homes100% occupied$404/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers346 homes93% occupied$353/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8144 homes95% occupied$387/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC20 homes98% occupied$398/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $66,755/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

86.6%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

10.2%

Low income$33K–$53K/yr

2.7%

Moderate / aboveOver $53K/yr

0.5%

Who Receives This Housing

66% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

24.6% of subsidized households are minority

47.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

49.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

7,9008.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Canada

1,287

Mexico

969

China

720

Philippines

587

India

536

United Kingdom

445

Germany

277

Korea

158

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

50,380

Avg. Commutei

18.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

51,141

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,939(4.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.7%Insured

5.3%Uninsured