Population 10,254 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Birch Bay
Household size in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Birch Bay is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast. Birch Bay has smaller households than the great majority of Washington cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.0 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.8 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.9 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.9, Birch Bay is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 219 Washington cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Birch Bay: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Birch Bay
Renters in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Birch Bay is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (40.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.3% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.2% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −14.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.0% of the housing in Birch Bay, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 14.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Birch Bay has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,112 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,048 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,062 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,898 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$787 | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in Birch Bay pays $1,898 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $787 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.3% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Birch Bay
Bachelor's degrees in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.9% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Birch Bay (33.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Washington overall (38.8%). The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.9% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.3% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Birch Bay: 94.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Birch Bay
| Period | Birch Bay | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Birch Bay than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Birch Bay compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Bay | 2.38 | 48.9 | 7.5% | 15.6% | 19.0% | 1994 | $1,898 | 33.9% | 94.3% | 3.4% |
| Pleasant Valley | 3.43 | 32.5 | 8.7% | 5.7% | 3.6% | 1994 | $1,363 | 20.9% | 87.7% | 2.6% |
| Blaine | 2.49 | 45.3 | 11.9% | 26.0% | 8.2% | 1988 | $1,507 | 27.0% | 93.2% | 5.3% |
| Custer | 2.88 | 37.8 | 13.9% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 1985 | $1,661 | 23.4% | 94.5% | 5.8% |
| Mountain View | 2.98 | 45.7 | 6.6% | 11.5% | 11.4% | 1999 | $2,325 | 41.6% | 97.7% | 1.4% |
| Ferndale | 2.80 | 40.7 | 10.3% | 21.1% | 7.8% | 1992 | $1,704 | 33.4% | 93.3% | 4.1% |
| Marietta | 2.71 | 39.5 | 15.7% | 29.5% | 11.6% | 1996 | $980 | 26.1% | 93.3% | 7.8% |
| Lynden | 2.81 | 36.7 | 6.9% | 31.9% | 5.8% | 1990 | $1,682 | 29.8% | 91.8% | 2.9% |
| Point Roberts | 1.73 | 55.8 | 3.6% | 13.7% | 62.4% | 1979 | $1,503 | 44.2% | 97.1% | 2.6% |
| Lummi Island | 2.52 | 46.4 | 15.2% | 21.3% | 23.6% | 1989 | $989 | 34.4% | 95.2% | 7.7% |
| Strandell | 2.73 | 44.2 | 4.9% | 24.1% | 2.3% | 1984 | $1,146 | 21.9% | 83.5% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tyrone, GA · Victoria, MN · Vicksburg, MI · Eidson Road, TX · Veneta, OR · Eldridge, IA · Elizabeth, PA · Vandalia, IL · Elkton, VA · Valencia, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Birch Bay. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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