County profile · Washington
Whatcom County, WA market data
How Whatcom County compares with other counties 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, #49 of 1,530 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Whatcom County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Whatcom County. 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
Whatcom County has an estimated 236,392 people and 94,021 households. Population estimates put the population change in Whatcom County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County, tire shops (84), collision repair and body shops (82) and child care centers and preschools (81) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For tire shops, that ranks #49 of 1,530 scored counties.
Whatcom County is part of the Bellingham metro area. 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 Whatcom County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Whatcom County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire shops | 84 | #49 of 1,530 | 19 | 2.0 | $5.5M | 220 | 12 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 82 | #49 of 1,327 | 18 | 1.9 | $5.8M | 189 | 20 |
| Child care and preschools | 81 | #70 of 1,611 | 45 | 4.8 | $1.5M | 145 | 44 |
| Pizza | 79 | #108 of 2,090 | 62 | 6.6 | $6.1M | 120 | 130 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 79 | #152 of 2,222 | 98 | 10.4 | $3.9M | 127 | 130 |
| Car washes and detailing | 78 | #76 of 1,451 | 30 | 3.2 | $3.5M | 138 | 13 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 77 | #88 of 1,707 | 40 | 4.3 | $6.8M | 142 | 66 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 75 | #144 of 1,656 | 27 | 2.9 | $4.6M | 256 | 113 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #225 of 2,401 | 273 | 29.0 | $383K | 143 | 131 |
| Dry cleaners | 73 | #44 of 507 | 5 | 0.5 | $34.5M | 220 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 73 | #259 of 2,378 | 163 | 17.3 | $642K | 144 | 97 |
| Barbershops | 71 | #201 of 1,356 | 35 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 146 | 6 |
| Funeral homes | 70 | #232 of 1,472 | 14 | 1.5 | $915K | 135 | 8 |
| Convenience stores | 69 | #465 of 2,261 | 69 | 7.3 | $8.3M | 106 | 28 |
| Electricians | 67 | #207 of 1,160 | 16 | 1.7 | $16.9M | 141 | 72 |
| Home repair trades | 67 | #297 of 2,057 | 91 | 9.7 | $3M | 122 | 161 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 66 | #104 of 479 | 7 | 0.7 | $15M | 109 | 7 |
| Laundromats | 66 | #201 of 785 | 13 | 1.4 | $13.3M | 106 | 3 |
| Home inspectors | 65 | #88 of 415 | 5 | 0.5 | Index only | 130 | 7 |
| Gyms | 65 | #357 of 1,792 | 70 | 7.4 | $1.5M | 117 | 39 |
| Veterinarians | 65 | #379 of 1,485 | 33 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 104 | 34 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #449 of 2,339 | 175 | 18.6 | $551K | 128 | 64 |
| Pest control | 64 | #172 of 699 | 12 | 1.3 | $10.4M | 102 | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 63 | #304 of 1,334 | 46 | 4.9 | $2.3M | 115 | 36 |
| Insurance agencies | 63 | #695 of 2,272 | 104 | 11.1 | $1.8M | 143 | 73 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #670 of 2,358 | 124 | 13.2 | $2.1M | 90 | 83 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 61 | #447 of 1,461 | 38 | 4.0 | $2.5M | 97 | 29 |
| Pet businesses | 61 | #616 of 2,200 | 112 | 11.9 | $838K | 95 | 72 |
| Nail salons | 60 | #397 of 1,328 | 43 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 134 | 30 |
| Property management | 59 | #303 of 910 | 30 | 3.2 | Index only | 102 | 45 |
| Pet stores | 59 | #336 of 974 | 23 | 2.4 | $4.1M | 90 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 59 | #573 of 1,889 | 67 | 7.1 | $5.6M | 136 | 106 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #639 of 2,088 | 148 | 15.7 | $719K | 109 | 75 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 58 | #870 of 2,402 | 193 | 20.5 | $3M | 88 | 73 |
| Roofing and gutters | 55 | #483 of 1,177 | 35 | 3.7 | $7.7M | 91 | 23 |
| Grocery stores | 55 | #850 of 2,070 | 71 | 7.6 | $8.1M | 87 | 45 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 55 | #870 of 2,087 | 127 | 13.5 | $1.4M | 107 | 50 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 55 | #893 of 2,385 | 360 | 38.3 | $268K | 126 | 132 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 55 | #953 of 2,405 | 494 | 52.5 | $766K | 115 | 225 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 53 | #1,025 of 2,210 | 177 | 18.8 | $974K | 111 | 59 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,064 of 2,405 | 988 | 105.1 | $383K | 103 | 446 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 52 | #633 of 1,302 | 39 | 4.1 | $3.2M | 101 | 25 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 51 | #899 of 1,886 | 101 | 10.7 | $1.2M | 124 | 99 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 50 | #706 of 1,493 | 54 | 5.7 | $2.3M | 79 | 111 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 49 | #1,230 of 2,394 | 657 | 69.9 | $187K | 123 | 337 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 48 | #424 of 777 | 32 | 3.4 | $3.3M | 82 | 39 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 48 | #481 of 887 | 51 | 5.4 | Index only | 86 | 20 |
| Chiropractors | 48 | #809 of 1,490 | 59 | 6.3 | $2.1M | 87 | 43 |
| Spas and skin care | 48 | #959 of 1,769 | 101 | 10.7 | $954K | 109 | 32 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,221 of 1,771 | 93 | 9.9 | $1.3M | 80 | 212 |
| Physical therapy | 40 | #997 of 1,422 | 72 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 71 | 48 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 38 | #1,703 of 2,176 | 376 | 40.0 | Index only | 83 | 251 |
| Real estate | 38 | #1,747 of 2,229 | 462 | 49.1 | Index only | 85 | 349 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 36 | #1,565 of 2,063 | 170 | 18.1 | $2.2M | 60 | 90 |
| House cleaning | 33 | #706 of 847 | 27 | 2.9 | $4.6M | 72 | 93 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.1 | $123.1M | Too few | 9 |
Household spending in Whatcom County
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 Whatcom County
- 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 Whatcom County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Whatcom County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Washington 8
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- San Juan County, WA18,478 people
- Island County, WA86,836 people
- Jefferson County, WA33,577 people
- Snohomish County, WA844,430 people
- Clallam County, WA77,813 people
- Kitsap County, WA277,881 people
- King County, WA2,287,171 people
Questions
How fast is Whatcom County, WA growing?
Population estimates put Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County, WA spend?
Households in Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County, WA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Whatcom County are for tire shops (84), collision repair and body shops (82) and child care centers and preschools (81). Whatcom County ranks #49 of 1,530 scored counties for tire shops.
How does Whatcom County, WA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Whatcom County 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, Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Whatcom County. 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 Whatcom County?
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 Whatcom County. 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.