Whatcom County, Washington Income Statistics
Whatcom County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Whatcom County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,153 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,759 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.5% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.8% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Whatcom County is about 16% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing slower in Whatcom County (5.2%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Whatcom County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Whatcom County, Washington grew by 71.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,153 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Whatcom County
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,150 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,217 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.1% | 20.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Whatcom County, it is 0.535, about the same as Washington's 0.534, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Whatcom County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $522,655 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Whatcom County, Washington has narrowed from about 27% to 20% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,948 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Whatcom County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.8% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 5,797 people are unemployed in Whatcom County, Washington.
The average commute time in Whatcom County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Whatcom County, Washington has fallen from 8.6% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2013.
Whatcom County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Whatcom County, WA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 230,493 residents against a local median of 131,328. Nothing separates Whatcom County, WA sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 11% below the local median at $82,153 against $92,129. Whatcom County, WA has the 6th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whatcom County, WA | 230,493 | $82,153 #6/6 | 5.2%/yr #5/6 | 4.8% #4/6 | 0.535 #6/6 |
| Skagit County, WA | 131,328 | $88,887 | 5.8%/yr | 4.8% | 0.527 |
| Snohomish County, WA | 843,136 | $111,921 | 5.3%/yr | 4.4% | 0.527 |
| Island County, WA | 86,836 | $92,129 | 5.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.518 |
| San Juan County, WA | 18,478 | $85,574 | 5.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.524 |
| King County, WA | 2,275,758 | $124,760 | 5.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Whatcom County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Washington, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Whatcom County, Washington.
How Rich Is Whatcom County, Washington?
Whatcom County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $82,153, about 16% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How has median household income changed in Whatcom County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Whatcom County, Washington rose 72%, from $47,807 to $82,153. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +72% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Whatcom County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Whatcom County, Washington was $80,504, up 4% from $77,455 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Whatcom County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Whatcom County, Washington was $65,599. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $82,153.
What is the Gini coefficient in Whatcom County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Whatcom County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Whatcom County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Whatcom County, Washington has narrowed from about 27% to 20% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,948 since 2009.
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