Whatcom County, Washington

19 cities & places have their primary county here.

Population: 228,432
Median household income: $80,989
Median home value: $536,100

Whatcom County is a county in Washington with a population of 228,432. 19 cities and places have their primary county here. Its median household income of $80,989 runs below the Washington figure of $94,952.

Between 2019 and 2023, Whatcom County's population grew 3.4% from 220,821 to 228,432, while its median household income rose 28.6% from $62,984 to $80,989.

The typical home was built around 1988. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 228,432
Median age: 38.2 yrs
Median household income: $80,989
Median home value: $536,100
Median gross rent: $1,465
Housing units: 101,928
Homeownership rate: 63.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 38.1%
Unemployment rate: 5.1%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

220,821228,432

Median household income

$62,984$80,989

Median home value

$345,700$536,100

Median gross rent

$1,060$1,465

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	220,821	$62,984	$345,700	$1,060
2020	224,538	$65,420	$369,000	$1,119
2021	224,533	$70,011	$396,500	$1,219
2022	226,523	$77,581	$475,000	$1,370
2023	228,432	$80,989	$536,100	$1,465

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.7%

5 to 1714.1%

18 to 2413.1%

25 to 3413.8%

35 to 4412.7%

45 to 5411.2%

55 to 6411.8%

65 to 7411.4%

75 and over7.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	10,797	4.7%
5 to 17	32,322	14.1%
18 to 24	29,920	13.1%
25 to 34	31,536	13.8%
35 to 44	29,098	12.7%
45 to 54	25,513	11.2%
55 to 64	26,991	11.8%
65 to 74	26,015	11.4%
75 and over	16,240	7.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	173,866	76.1%
Black or African American	1,916	0.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	3,839	1.7%
Asian	9,629	4.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	604	0.3%
Some other race	967	0.4%
Two or more races	13,949	6.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	23,662	10.4%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma6.2%

High school graduate21.4%

Some college or associate's34.3%

Bachelor's degree23.5%

Graduate or professional degree14.6%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	9,684	6.2%
High school graduate	33,192	21.4%
Some college or associate's	53,334	34.3%
Bachelor's degree	36,442	23.5%
Graduate or professional degree	22,741	14.6%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone70.2%

Carpooled8.1%

Public transit1.9%

Walked3.4%

Bicycle1.9%

Worked from home13.3%

Other means1.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	77,979	70.2%
Carpooled	9,011	8.1%
Public transit	2,133	1.9%
Walked	3,828	3.4%
Bicycle	2,131	1.9%
Worked from home	14,834	13.3%
Other means	1,220	1.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	33,586	34.9%
15 to 29 min	38,790	40.3%
30 to 44 min	14,931	15.5%
45 to 59 min	3,922	4.1%
60+ min	5,073	5.3%

Households

Average household size: 2.42
Poverty rate: 12.7% (28,364 of 223,256)

	Count	Share
Family households	54,979	59.5%
Nonfamily households	37,432	40.5%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1988

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	92,411	90.7%
Vacant	9,517	9.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	58,708	63.5%
Renter-occupied	33,703	36.5%

1-unit, detached63.3%

1-unit, attached3.0%

2 to 4 units7.0%

5 to 19 units10.0%

20 or more units10.1%

Mobile home & other6.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	64,570	63.3%
1-unit, attached	3,070	3.0%
2 to 4 units	7,117	7.0%
5 to 19 units	10,237	10.0%
20 or more units	10,338	10.1%
Mobile home & other	6,596	6.5%

Geography

County GEOID: 53073
State: Washington
Land area: 2,108 sq mi
Water area: 397 sq mi
Center point: 48.8427, -121.8364