Whatcom County, WA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 231,817 | 7,740,889 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 92.6 | 108.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.22% | 1.20% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.3 | 36.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 92,398 | 3,012,519 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Whatcom County grew by 18.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 228,432 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Whatcom County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,505 | $95,177 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.67% | 6.00% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Whatcom County is about 15% lower than in Washington.
Housing
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $427,928 | $471,160 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,464 | $1,681 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.5% | 63.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Whatcom County is about 24.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,464 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Whatcom County spend about 36 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 151 hours, about 6.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.1 | 22.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 36.1 | 45.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 151 | 188 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,669 | $5,842 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 17.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 7,859 | 10,119 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 954 | 1,525 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Washington:
Columbia County (11.6 min), Walla Walla County (12.0 min), San Juan County (12.7 min).
Slowest:
Mason County (32.4 min), Wahkiakum County (30.7 min), Snohomish County (28.7 min).
The average commute time in Whatcom County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Washington.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Whatcom County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 35.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.4), San Juan County (0.4), Jefferson County (0.4).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.2), Yakima County (0.2), Grant County (0.2).
Health
Whatcom County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.5 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.8% | 15.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.5% | 16.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.8), Whitman County (0.8), San Juan County (0.8).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.8), Okanogan County (0.8), Pacific County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Whatcom County, Washington.
What is the population of Whatcom County, Washington?
The population of Whatcom County, Washington is 231,817, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Whatcom County, Washington?
The population density of Whatcom County, Washington is 92.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Whatcom County, Washington?
The median household income in Whatcom County, Washington is $80,505, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Whatcom County, Washington?
The median home price in Whatcom County, Washington is $427,928, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Whatcom County, Washington?
The unemployment rate in Whatcom County, Washington is 5.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.