Metro area profile · Washington
Bellingham, WA metro area market data
How the Bellingham metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 236,392
- +3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 94,021
- Median household income
- $81,784
- +29.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $585,800
- Jobs located here
- 90,570
- Highest market score
- 84
- Tire shops, #2 of 386 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Bellingham metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Bellingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Bellingham metro area has an estimated 236,392 people and 94,021 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Bellingham metro area from 2020 to 2025 at +3.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Bellingham metro area is $81,784, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Bellingham metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (89).
Of the business types scored in the Bellingham metro area, tire shops (84), collision repair and body shops (83) and fast food and sandwich shops (83) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For tire shops, that ranks #2 of 386 scored metro areas.
The Bellingham metro area is made up of one county, Whatcom County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for coffee shops and cafes (65% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for primary care and pediatric clinics (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Bellingham metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Bellingham metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire shops | 84 | #2 of 386 | 19 | 2.0 | $5.5M | 220 | 12 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 83 | #5 of 381 | 18 | 1.9 | $5.8M | 189 | 20 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 83 | #17 of 387 | 98 | 10.4 | $3.9M | 127 | 130 |
| Child care and preschools | 81 | #17 of 387 | 45 | 4.8 | $1.5M | 145 | 44 |
| Auto repair and car care | 79 | #13 of 387 | 273 | 29.0 | $383K | 143 | 131 |
| Pizza | 79 | #16 of 387 | 62 | 6.6 | $6.1M | 120 | 130 |
| Car washes and detailing | 78 | #8 of 387 | 30 | 3.2 | $3.5M | 138 | 13 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 78 | #25 of 387 | 27 | 2.9 | $4.6M | 256 | 113 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 77 | #15 of 387 | 40 | 4.3 | $6.8M | 142 | 66 |
| Auto repair shops | 76 | #27 of 387 | 163 | 17.3 | $642K | 144 | 97 |
| Dry cleaners | 74 | #18 of 272 | 5 | 0.5 | $34.5M | 220 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 71 | #72 of 387 | 104 | 11.1 | $1.8M | 143 | 73 |
| Hair salons | 68 | #41 of 387 | 175 | 18.6 | $551K | 128 | 64 |
| Home repair trades | 67 | #58 of 387 | 91 | 9.7 | $3M | 122 | 161 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 67 | #59 of 290 | 7 | 0.7 | $15M | 109 | 7 |
| Barbershops | 67 | #69 of 387 | 35 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 146 | 6 |
| Electricians | 65 | #67 of 383 | 16 | 1.7 | $16.9M | 141 | 72 |
| Funeral homes | 65 | #93 of 377 | 14 | 1.5 | $915K | 135 | 8 |
| Home inspectors | 63 | #52 of 243 | 5 | 0.5 | Index only | 130 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 63 | #61 of 387 | 360 | 38.3 | $268K | 126 | 132 |
| Pest control | 63 | #84 of 345 | 12 | 1.3 | $10.4M | 102 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 63 | #92 of 387 | 657 | 69.9 | $187K | 123 | 337 |
| Laundromats | 63 | #105 of 364 | 13 | 1.4 | $13.3M | 106 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 63 | #109 of 387 | 177 | 18.8 | $974K | 111 | 59 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 63 | #113 of 387 | 127 | 13.5 | $1.4M | 107 | 50 |
| Gyms | 62 | #85 of 387 | 70 | 7.4 | $1.5M | 117 | 39 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #97 of 387 | 148 | 15.7 | $719K | 109 | 75 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 60 | #98 of 387 | 46 | 4.9 | $2.3M | 115 | 36 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #114 of 387 | 67 | 7.1 | $5.6M | 136 | 106 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #108 of 387 | 43 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 134 | 30 |
| Property management | 59 | #108 of 374 | 30 | 3.2 | Index only | 102 | 45 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 58 | #132 of 387 | 101 | 10.7 | $1.2M | 124 | 99 |
| Veterinarians | 57 | #144 of 384 | 33 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 104 | 34 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #155 of 387 | 69 | 7.3 | $8.3M | 106 | 28 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 56 | #138 of 387 | 494 | 52.5 | $766K | 115 | 225 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 54 | #163 of 387 | 988 | 105.1 | $383K | 103 | 446 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #171 of 387 | 112 | 11.9 | $838K | 95 | 72 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 53 | #173 of 386 | 38 | 4.0 | $2.5M | 97 | 29 |
| Roofing and gutters | 51 | #187 of 381 | 35 | 3.7 | $7.7M | 91 | 23 |
| Gas stations | 51 | #192 of 387 | 124 | 13.2 | $2.1M | 90 | 83 |
| Pet stores | 50 | #190 of 382 | 23 | 2.4 | $4.1M | 90 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 49 | #197 of 387 | 101 | 10.7 | $954K | 109 | 32 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 46 | #216 of 373 | 51 | 5.4 | Index only | 86 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 45 | #216 of 385 | 54 | 5.7 | $2.3M | 79 | 111 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 45 | #234 of 387 | 193 | 20.5 | $3M | 88 | 73 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 45 | #251 of 386 | 39 | 4.1 | $3.2M | 101 | 25 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 41 | #256 of 347 | 32 | 3.4 | $3.3M | 82 | 39 |
| Chiropractors | 41 | #257 of 386 | 59 | 6.3 | $2.1M | 87 | 43 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 39 | #276 of 387 | 93 | 9.9 | $1.3M | 80 | 212 |
| Real estate | 39 | #293 of 387 | 462 | 49.1 | Index only | 85 | 349 |
| Grocery stores | 38 | #275 of 387 | 71 | 7.6 | $8.1M | 87 | 45 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 37 | #311 of 387 | 376 | 40.0 | Index only | 83 | 251 |
| Physical therapy | 35 | #313 of 386 | 72 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 71 | 48 |
| House cleaning | 33 | #314 of 375 | 27 | 2.9 | $4.6M | 72 | 93 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 32 | #333 of 387 | 170 | 18.1 | $2.2M | 60 | 90 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.1 | $123.1M | Too few | 9 |
Household spending in the Bellingham metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $104.7M | $1,113 | 116 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $265.3M | $2,822 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $378.3M | $4,024 | 99 |
| Groceries | $574.8M | $6,114 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $96.4M | $1,025 | 102 |
| Child care and other personal services | $65.3M | $695 | 120 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $106.4M | $1,132 | 115 |
| Medical and dental services | $123.1M | $1,309 | 102 |
| Pets | $93.8M | $998 | 110 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $172.4M | $1,833 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $187.1M | $1,990 | 102 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $270M | $2,872 | 95 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $125.1M | $1,331 | 94 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.7B | $18,166 | 109 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Bellingham metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 236,392+3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 94,021
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 64%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 2,108 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 109
- Median household income
- $81,784+29.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $109,611
- Median home value
- $585,800
- Jobs located here
- 90,570
- Daytime population
- 221,278Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Bellingham metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Bellingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Bellingham metro area 1
- Whatcom County, WA230,503 people
Other markets based in Washington 12
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- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area597,123 people
- Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area311,807 people
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area299,067 people
- Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area277,881 people
- Yakima, WA metro area257,152 people
- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro area131,328 people
- Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro area124,538 people
- Longview-Kelso, WA metro area112,360 people
- Walla Walla, WA metro area62,161 people
- Moses Lake, WA area101,799 people
- Oak Harbor, WA area86,836 people
Questions
How fast is the Bellingham, WA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Bellingham metro area at 236,392 people in 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 94,021 households. Median household income rose 29.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Bellingham, WA metro area spend?
Households in the Bellingham metro area spend about $1.7B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $574.8M on groceries and $378.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Bellingham metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (89).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Bellingham, WA metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Bellingham metro area are for tire shops (84), collision repair and body shops (83) and fast food and sandwich shops (83). The Bellingham metro area ranks #2 of 386 scored metro areas for tire shops.
How does the Bellingham, WA metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Bellingham metro area is $81,784 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $585,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Bellingham metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for coffee shops and cafes (65% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for primary care and pediatric clinics (60% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the Bellingham metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Bellingham metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Bellingham metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Bellingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.