Cost of Living in Whatcom County, Washington
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Whatcom County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Whatcom County ranks #2,962 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Whatcom County Median Home Value Reaches $585,800
The median home value in Whatcom County was $585,800, exceeding the Washington unweighted county mean of $436,313. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 34.8%, which is 5.1 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.7%. Median gross rent was estimated at $1,555 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,251. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,722, which is $402 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,320. Among renter households, the median income was $51,629. The canonical rent-to-income percentage of 34.8% is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI for this jurisdiction. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Whatcom County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.8% of renter household income in Whatcom County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,555 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,722. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $62,200 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Washington unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,251 per month. Whatcom County's $1,555 median is 24.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Whatcom County
Rent Burden
22.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,908
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.3%
of gross income
The median home in Whatcom County may be a stretch
Median home value is $585,800. Estimated monthly cost: $4,677 vs. your max of $1,908.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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