Five-year census report shows Bellingham’s population growing closer to 100K
Demographic estimates from updated U.S. census data released Thursday show Bellingham’s population edging closer to six figures.
Incomes grew in the City of Subdued Excitement, and poverty declined from 2020-2024, even as an estimated 50% of renters are considered cost-burdened, spending one-third of their income or more on rent, according to a city of Bellingham report.
There are fewer young children, more homeowners, higher levels of education and a growing gap in the number of male and female residents, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates.
The mid-census reports offer a deep dive into the United States and the lives of its residents, with statistics regarding people and housing, race, ethnicity and languages spoken at home, education and income, commuting patterns, employment and health insurance coverage.
It is the only source of local data in most of the more than 40 categories that are covered, the Census Bureau said.
Some key local findings:
- Bellingham has a population of 95,880 people, up from 90,821 in the 2020 census. At that rate, the city will surpass 100,000 residents by the 2030 census.
- The city had 44,877 housing units in 2024, up from 40,656 in 2020.
- Some 53% of Bellingham residents in 2024 were female, up from 51.6% in 2020, for a ratio of 85.9 males to 100 females. Gender data was not categorized by age.
- In 2024, 5,333 residents were foreign-born, 2,707 were naturalized citizens, and 2,626 were not U.S. citizens. Comparable data from 2020 was unavailable in this category.
Median age was 32.9 years in 2024, down from 33.6 years in 2020. An estimated 3.2% of the population was under 5 years old in 2024, down from 3.7% in 2020.
Bellingham appears to be growing less diverse, with 78.4% of the population considered white in 2024. Hispanic or Latino people represent the largest minority group, at 9.1%. Black residents were at 4.2%, Native American 2.2%, and Asian or Pacific Islander 7.5%. In 2020, 77.4% were white, 9.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Black, 2.5% Native American and 9.2% Asian or Pacific Islander.
Median income rose to $40,419 in 2024, up from $28,480 in 2020. Some 20.7% earn more than $75,000, up from 13% in 2020. Some 17.6% of residents were below the poverty line in 2024, down from 20% in 2020.
In 2024, 50.5% of Bellingham residents had never married, 35.5% were married, 11.5% were divorced or separated, and 3.4% had a spouse who had died. In 2020 48.2% had never married, 36.4% were married, 11.4% were divorced or separated and 4% were “widowed.”
Levels of education are rising, according to the new figures. Some 32.2% of residents had a bachelor’s degree in 2024, and 22.9% had a graduate or professional degree. In 2020, 27.2% of people held a bachelor’s degree, and 18.2% had a master’s or professional degree or higher.
The data shows 53.5% of Bellingham residents were renters in 2024, and 46.5% lived in homes they own, a figure that’s been relatively static.
There were 44,852 renters in 2024 and 44,304 renters in 2020. There were 46,114 people living in owner-occupied housing in 2024, up from 41,438 in 2020.
