Population 5,004 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Samish Hill
Household size in Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.32 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.37 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.35 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.32 | +0.02 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Samish Hill average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Bellingham overall, where it has 2.35 people. Household size has climbed from 2.38 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other Bellingham neighborhood has larger households.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1 | 36.4 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.1 | 36.3 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 36.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.6 | 38.6 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.6 | +2.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Samish Hill is young: half of its residents are under 33.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. The median age has dropped from 38.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 8.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 7.9% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 7.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Samish Hill: 5.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Samish Hill
Renters in Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1% | 47.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.8% | 47.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.2% | 48.4% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.3% | 47.8% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +0.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Samish Hill than nationally: 41.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in Bellingham overall (47.8%). About half of owners (51.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 8.2% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 7.9% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 2.9% of homes in Samish Hill are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Bellingham neighborhood has a lower vacancy rate.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1977 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1979 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1996 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Samish Hill is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1996, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only one other Bellingham neighborhood has newer homes.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $737 | $852 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,082 | $986 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,242 | $1,212 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,785 | $1,680 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,048 | +$828 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Samish Hill costs $1,785 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,048 a month since 2006–10, up 142%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 40.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other Bellingham neighborhood has higher rents.
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 Samish Hill
Bachelor's degrees in Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7% | 36.1% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 50.1% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.7% | 42.7% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.0% | 46.4% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.3 pts | +10.3 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Samish Hill is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.3 points, mirroring the country. Of Bellingham's 13 neighborhoods, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 91.9% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.1% | 92.5% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.1% | 94.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 95.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Samish Hill: 97.7% 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 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Bellingham neighborhoods have a higher share of high school graduates: only two of 13.
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 Samish Hill
| Period | Samish Hill | Bellingham | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 9.1% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −3.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Samish Hill runs well above the national rate: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Samish Hill compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samish Hill | 2.69 | 33.6 | 5.2% | 41.3% | 2.9% | 1996 | $1,785 | 56.0% | 97.7% | 8.3% |
| Happy Valley | 1.98 | 28.1 | 4.9% | 72.9% | 5.5% | 1989 | $1,592 | 53.1% | 97.5% | 6.2% |
| Western Washington University | 4.65 | 19.7 | 6.5% | 84.2% | 16.9% | 1968 | $1,618 | 46.4% | 100.0% | 17.9% |
| Sehome | 2.49 | 23.5 | 6.5% | 79.2% | 16.9% | 1968 | $1,541 | 46.8% | 94.5% | 10.2% |
| South Hill | 1.97 | 46.0 | 2.0% | 40.2% | 12.1% | 1971 | $1,689 | 72.1% | 96.3% | 4.3% |
| Puget | 2.40 | 29.7 | 4.6% | 53.6% | 5.8% | 1991 | $1,704 | 49.5% | 94.8% | 3.2% |
| York | 2.31 | 28.3 | 4.2% | 83.2% | 7.3% | 1953 | $1,506 | 49.5% | 92.8% | 16.7% |
| Lettered Streets | 2.12 | 39.3 | 11.1% | 53.2% | 2.8% | 1959 | $1,392 | 48.7% | 94.3% | 7.1% |
| Columbia | 2.32 | 41.5 | 10.2% | 35.2% | 5.9% | 1940 | $1,684 | 55.8% | 96.4% | 6.0% |
| Silver Beach | 2.39 | 44.5 | 6.0% | 18.9% | 4.7% | 1981 | $1,699 | 59.0% | 98.4% | 4.4% |
| Mount Baker | 2.09 | 42.8 | 5.6% | 46.3% | 8.2% | 1996 | $1,997 | 40.1% | 94.2% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Crafton Heights, Pittsburgh, PA · Valley College, San Bernardino, CA · University Heights and Rosedale Hills, Indianapolis, IN · Floral Park, Santa Ana, CA · Eastern 49-63, Kansas City, MO · Dignowity Hill, San Antonio, TX · Cumberland, Greensboro, NC · Crossgate, Vestavia Hills, AL · Cramer Hill, Camden, NJ · Wallhaven, Akron, OH
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 Samish Hill. 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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