Population 230,503 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Whatcom County
Household size in Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Whatcom County run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.9 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Whatcom County are younger than 40.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.8, in line with the national trend.
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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.3% of households in Whatcom County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, as it has 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 Whatcom County
Renters in Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.4% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.1% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in Whatcom County rent their homes (36.3%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 1.4 points since 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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Whatcom County as nationally: 8.7%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Whatcom County are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1986, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the south 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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $872 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $987 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,163 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,645 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$774 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Whatcom County runs $1,645 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Washington overall ($1,875). Rent has climbed $774 a month since 2006–10, up 89%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.3% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Whatcom County
Bachelor's degrees in Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.9% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Whatcom County (38.9%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.9% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Whatcom County is above the national rate: 93.9% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Whatcom County
| Period | Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Whatcom County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.7 points since 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).
Whatcom County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whatcom County | 2.50 | 40.0 | 8.3% | 36.3% | 8.7% | 1986 | $1,645 | 38.9% | 93.9% | 4.6% |
| Skagit County | 2.52 | 43.2 | 11.0% | 29.9% | 8.2% | 1984 | $1,625 | 29.2% | 91.2% | 4.9% |
| San Juan County | 2.03 | 56.3 | 6.0% | 22.0% | 30.8% | 1988 | $1,505 | 53.6% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Island County | 2.42 | 47.2 | 7.4% | 25.3% | 15.1% | 1988 | $1,714 | 35.5% | 95.7% | 4.2% |
| Jefferson County | 2.05 | 58.4 | 6.3% | 21.0% | 14.5% | 1986 | $1,536 | 43.9% | 95.4% | 6.9% |
| Snohomish County | 2.71 | 39.7 | 9.1% | 31.8% | 5.8% | 1989 | $2,169 | 38.5% | 93.1% | 4.5% |
| Clallam County | 2.22 | 51.7 | 8.8% | 26.3% | 9.8% | 1982 | $1,296 | 30.8% | 93.8% | 5.2% |
| Okanogan County | 2.37 | 43.9 | 13.5% | 27.6% | 18.6% | 1982 | $944 | 24.6% | 85.0% | 4.8% |
| Ferry County | 2.34 | 51.7 | 8.1% | 21.9% | 23.1% | 1984 | $683 | 16.1% | 91.1% | 12.2% |
| Stevens County | 2.52 | 47.4 | 7.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1985 | $1,013 | 22.1% | 91.8% | 5.5% |
| Pend Oreille County | 2.38 | 49.0 | 8.9% | 19.2% | 22.7% | 1984 | $906 | 20.5% | 93.9% | 6.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Cherokee County, GA · Butler County, PA · Butte County, CA · Cabarrus County, NC · Caddo Parish, LA · Washington County, AR · Calcasieu Parish, LA · Warren County, OH · Union County, NC · Canyon County, ID
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 Whatcom County. 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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