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City · 93,438 residents · Whatcom County, Washington

Bellingham , Washington

In Bellingham, a typical home is worth $627,500 and typical rent is $1,577 a month. Compared with all of Whatcom County, typical household income is 18% lower, the typical home value is 7% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $627,500

    7% above the county

    11% above Washington

    • Bellingham
    • Whatcom
    • Washington

  • Typical rent

    $1,577a month

    About the same as the county

    10% below Washington

    • Bellingham
    • Whatcom
    • Washington

  • Typical household income

    $66,755a year

    18% below the county

    32% below Washington

    • Bellingham
    • Whatcom
    • Washington

  • Households that own their home

    45%

    19 points below the county

    19 points below Washington

    • Bellingham
    • Whatcom
    • Washington

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$657,528
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,908 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Bellingham is in Whatcom County. The FHA loan limit ($664,700 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Whatcom County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Bellingham apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 45% of households in Bellingham own their home, against 64% in Whatcom County.

  2. Nearby, in Birch Bay, the typical home value is $477,200: 24% less than in Bellingham ($627,500).

  3. Nearby, in Birch Bay, the typical rent is $1,222: 23% less than in Bellingham ($1,577).

  4. Bellingham has the 11th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 172 cities in Washington with more than 5,000 people (65%).

  5. The typical household income in Bellingham is $66,755, 18% less than in Whatcom County as a whole ($81,784).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Bellingham

What homes there are in Bellingham, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Bellingham there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (43%); in Whatcom County, 63%.

Year built

In Bellingham, half of the homes were built before 1986; in Whatcom County, before 1989.

Homes in Bellingham are smaller: 44% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Whatcom County, 59%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Whatcom County is $664,700: about 55% of owner-occupied homes in Bellingham are worth less, and the rest more.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 69% of rented homes in Bellingham cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Whatcom County ($1,872).

With a mortgage

$2,331 a month

Whatcom County: $2,307 a month

Without a mortgage

$771 a month

Whatcom County: $735 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Whatcom County: 63%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Bellingham is $2,331 a month, near the figure in Whatcom County ($2,307).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Bellingham rose 68% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Whatcom County (70%).

Much as in Whatcom County, the typical rent in Bellingham rose 49% since 2015–2019.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 25%, while home values changed +68% and rent +49%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBellinghamWhatcom CountyWashingtonUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.1%2.6%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.4%3.7%3.5%3.4%
People per household 2.152.402.502.53
Drive alone 64%69%63%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%9%
Public transit 3%2%3%3%
Walk or bike 11%6%4%3%
Work from home 15%15%20%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Whatcom County, the rental vacancy rate in Bellingham is 3.1%.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.4% of households in Bellingham live, less than in Whatcom County (3.7%).

Households in Bellingham are smaller: 2.15 people on average; in Whatcom County, 2.40.

More people walk or bike to work in Bellingham: 11%, against 6% in Whatcom County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Bellingham?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Bellingham, worth $627,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 91% of the typical household income in Bellingham, which is $66,755 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $217,445 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Whatcom County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Bellingham. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $21,963 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$5,074

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$616,134
Total interest
$886,472
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $10,597 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,558 a month

  • Tight

    $1,558 to $2,003 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,003 a month

    Your payment · 91%

Compared with the typical household income in Bellingham ($66,755 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$5,074
Principal & interest$4,174
Property tax$361
Home insurance$262
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$278

You need at least $21,963 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Bellingham and Whatcom County

Bellingham is in Whatcom County, Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Bellingham's own numbers

Typical home value
$627,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,577
Typical yearly household income
$66,755
Households that own their home
45%
Effective property tax rate
0.69%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Whatcom County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$664,700
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,872
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Whatcom County.

Everything about Whatcom County

Buying

Buying a home in Bellingham

A typical home in Bellingham is worth $627,500: 7% above the county and 11% above Washington. With the typical household income in Bellingham ($66,755 a year), a typical home costs 9.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Bellingham 9.4 years
  • Whatcom 7.2 years
  • Washington 5.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Whatcom County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Whatcom County rose 121% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Whatcom County.

Period County Washington U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.1% +1.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +121% +113% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Bellingham next to Whatcom County, Washington and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Bellingham $627,500
  • Whatcom $585,800
  • Washington $564,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Bellingham $1,577
  • Whatcom $1,555
  • Washington $1,760
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Bellingham $66,755
  • Whatcom $81,784
  • Washington $98,141
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Bellingham next to Whatcom County and Washington
Measure Bellingham Whatcom County Washington U.S.
Typical home value $627,500 $585,800 $564,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,577 $1,555 $1,760 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,755 $81,784 $98,141 $80,734
Households that own their home 45% 64% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,353 $4,087 $4,556 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.69% 0.7% 0.81% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 65% 60% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Whatcom County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bellingham

For a typical $627,500 home in Bellingham, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bellingham's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $5,074a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $21,963
    Cash to close
    $40,788
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $278

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,959a month

    Down payment
    $31,375
    Cash to close
    $50,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $298

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $4,023a month

    Down payment
    $125,500
    Cash to close
    $144,325
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,603a month

    Down payment
    $94,125
    Cash to close
    $112,950
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Bellingham and for Whatcom County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Bellingham

0.69%of the home’s value each year

$4,353 a year for the typical owner in Bellingham.

  • Bellingham 0.69%
  • Whatcom 0.7%
  • Washington 0.81%

What Washington publishes Exemption for people 61 and older or with disabilities (Washington State Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Washington

Flood risk in Whatcom County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Whatcom County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.1%
4,011
Of those, with NFIP insurance
29%
County Washington U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.1% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 29% 40% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Bellingham

Typical rent in Bellingham is $1,577 a month: about the same as the county. In Bellingham, 65% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Whatcom County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,872 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.00 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Whatcom County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,489 $28.63 $59,560
1 bedroom $1,529 $29.40 $61,160
2 bedrooms $1,872 $36.00 $74,880
3 bedrooms $2,545 $48.94 $101,800
4 bedrooms $3,129 $60.17 $125,160

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bellingham

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bellingham has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,850 in 98226 to $1,960 in 98229.

2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Whatcom County ($1,872).

  • 98225 $1,920$2,610
  • 98226 $1,850$2,520
  • 98229 $1,960$2,660

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bellingham when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Bellingham

HUD lists 40 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bellingham. These are the largest.

  • Lincoln Square 409 York St, Bellingham 98225 396 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority City of Bellingham · Average payment: $381 a month · Average wait: 18 months (360) 676-6887
  • Regency Park 2050 Fraser St, Bellingham 98229 228 homes, 225 low-income · 1 bd: 60 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 72 · 4 bd: 48 · In service since 2001 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Woodrose Apartments 3303 + 3353 Racine Street, Bellingham 98226 197 homes, 193 low-income · 1 bd: 107 · 2 bd: 90 · In service since 2002 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Cascade Meadows 455 Westerly Rd, Bellingham 98226 216 homes, 144 low-income · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 132 · 3 bd: 36 · In service since 2015
  • Evergreen Ridge Apartments 3451 Woburn St, Bellingham 98226 145 homes, 143 low-income · 1 bd: 50 · 2 bd: 65 · 3 bd: 30 · In service since 1996 · For families

See all 55 buildings in Whatcom County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Bellingham

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Whatcom County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Bellingham

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bellingham or Whatcom County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Bellingham the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Washington

  • Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission 0% second mortgage for 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage, with no monthly payments; you do not need to be a first-time buyer. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Covenant Homeownership Program

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission loan with no monthly payments of up to 20% of the price (maximum $150,000) plus closing costs, for first-time buyers whose family lived in Washington before 1968 and belonged to a group affected by housing discrimination, including Hispanic people. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • House Key Opportunity DPA

    Statewide in Washington

    Washington state commission loan of up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers with the House Key Opportunity mortgage. Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Bellingham

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Bellingham, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Kulshan Community Land Trust

    1715 C St, Bellingham · 1 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    360-671-5600-1

  • Opal Community Land Trust

    286 Enchanted Forest Rd, Eastsound · 21 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (360) 376-3191

  • Parkview Services

    4720 200th St SW Ste 200, Lynnwood · 65 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (206) 542-6644

Every agency in Whatcom County All counseling agencies in Washington

Help in Spanish near Bellingham

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Bellingham

HUD’s record names them for Bellingham or Whatcom County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority City of Bellingham Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (360) 676-6887
  • HA Of Whatcom County Public housing (360) 676-6887

All housing agencies in Washington Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Whatcom County

These cities are also in Whatcom County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Whatcom County Housing in Washington

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Bellingham, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Whatcom County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Bellingham.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Bellingham

Short answers with the numbers for Bellingham and all of Whatcom County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Bellingham?

The typical home value in Bellingham is $627,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Whatcom County it is $585,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Bellingham?

Typical rent in Bellingham is $1,577 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Whatcom County is $1,872.

What is the FHA loan limit in Bellingham?

Bellingham uses the FHA limit for all of Whatcom County (2026): $664,700 for a one-unit home and $1,278,300 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Bellingham?

The typical homeowner in Bellingham pays $4,353 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.69% of the home’s value; in Whatcom County, the rate is 0.7%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bellingham?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Whatcom County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).