Washington saw a record number of eviction filings in 2024; How did Whatcom County fare?
Washington is set to have the highest eviction filing count in the state’s recorded history in 2024.
That’s according to a report released by the Eviction Research Network, an academic research group that collects, analyzes and maps eviction and housing data from states across the country.
The group’s recently released Washington report includes data from every county in the state and compares current eviction data to previous years.
Eviction data collected between January and November of 2024 shows that nine counties have already exceeded previous records in filing counts this year. Eight more counties, including nearby Skagit County, are expected to break eviction filing records by the end of December.
But how does Whatcom County compare?
A look at the local data
Whatcom County has recorded 372 eviction filings so far in 2024. That’s not a record-breaking number for the county, but it is tied with 2007 as the year with the fifth-highest number of eviction filings recorded in a single year since 2004 — the first year the Eviction Research Network has available data.
Whatcom County recorded its highest number of eviction filings, 477, in 2004.
But this year’s filing count is a big jump from the number recorded in recent years. And it’s the highest number recorded in a decade since Whatcom County recorded 384 eviction filings in 2014.
Similar to most other Washington counties, Whatcom County recorded its fewest eviction filings in 2020 and 2021, with 121 and 134 filed each year respectively.
“Since July, 2023, Washington State has served more eviction filings every month than it did in 2019,” the Eviction Research Network said in its report. “This increase follows the gradual lifting of state and local pandemic protections, including the Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) and the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program.”
Whatcom County eviction filings over a 12-month period between September 2023 and August 2024 show a filing rate of 1.2%, compared to the state average of 2.1%. That means Whatcom County sees about 1.2 eviction filings per 100 renters.
How do other Washington counties stack up?
Counties with more than 2,000 filings in the last 12 months:
▪ King (Seattle) - 7,362
▪ Pierce (Tacoma) - 3,561
▪ Spokane - 2,228
▪ Clark (Vancouver) - 2,150
▪ Snohomish (Everett) - 2,118
Counties with the top filing rates and reports:
▪ Clark (Vancouver) - 2,100 evictions, 3.4% eviction rate
▪ Pierce (Tacoma) - 3,500 evictions, 2.9% eviction rate
▪ Spokane - 2,200 evictions, 2.9% eviction rate
