Bellingham Housing Statistics
Planning and Community Development Department
Housing is a "hot" topic right now. This story map aims to provide central and authoritative information about current housing statistics in the City of Bellingham. The maps, graphs, and supporting text explore housing types, occupancy, tenure, and their distribution across the City's neighborhoods.
Most of the graphs and maps found below are interactive. Zoom/Pan and click on features for more information.
Housing Types
Bellingham accommodates growth through a variety of housing types. For statistical purposes, we have broken down the type and number of housing units into a few main categories.
Housing Statistics By Neighborhood
TOTAL HOUSING UNITS BY TYPE
*percentages are based on total housing units excluding group housing
Click on a neighborhood in the map to view housing units by neighborhood.
Group housing facilities are shown in blue and expressed in terms of population in the neighborhood pop-ups.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS BY NUMBER OF UNITS
Manufactured (or mobile) home parks and manufactured homes on individual lots make up a small but important portion of the housing stock in the City of Bellingham. They are about 2.5% of the total housing stock, but represent 16% of the affordable housing.
Source: City of Bellingham Estimated Population and Housing Unit Model
Lakeway Manufactured Home Park
GROUP HOUSING BY POPULATION
Group Housing includes elderly homes, dormitories, convalescent care, shelters, correctional facilities, and other group type facilities. Group Housing is expressed in terms of population instead of housing units. This is due to the unique persons per unit ratio usually found in these housing types.
Mathes Hall Dorm, Western Washington University (Photo courtesy of WWU)
Source: City of Bellingham Estimated Population and Housing Unit Model
How does Bellingham’s percentage of multi-family housing compare with other cities?
These charts compare Bellingham’s total population and percentage of multi-family housing with other Washington cities > 50,000 people.
Source: WA State OFM
Population & Density
Over the past 20 years, annual population increase for Bellingham has averaged 1,400 people per year and the adopted 20-year growth forecast is for an average of 1,350 people per year (WA State OFM Small Area Estimates, and Bellingham Comprehensive Plan).
(Map Data Source: City of Bellingham Estimated Population and Housing Unit Model)
Bellingham Housing Construction 1900 - 2020
Residential density is the ratio of homes to land area, usually expressed as housing units per acre. Neighborhood density as shown on this map is calculated by dividing the total existing housing units by the number of developed residential acres (excludes vacant and non-residential land). For WWU the density figure just includes on-campus student dormitories and their associated developed residential land area (i.e. not academic, administrative, or sports facilities).
City-wide residential density is 6.3 units per acre
(Map Data Source: City of Bellingham Estimated Population and Housing Unit Model)
After a recession-triggered drop between 2010-2016, Bellingham's vacancy rate has been recovering as housing construction catches up with population growth.
Housing Tenure
According to the 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, more than half of the housing units in the City of Bellingham are rental units.
In March of 2015, the Bellingham City Council approved the Rental Registration & Safety Inspection Program (RR&SIP). The program requires all residential rental properties (apartments, condos, single-family homes, duplexes, ADUs, etc.) within Bellingham city limits be registered. The program is designed to ensure that all rental housing units comply with specific life & fire safety standards and are providing a safe place for tenants to live.
2024 Rental Percent by Neighborhood
Source: 2024 City of Bellingham Rental Registration & Safety Program
Urban Villages
Urban villages are activity centers that provide pleasant living, shopping and working environments; strong pedestrian accessibility; well-located public spaces; a connected street system; and a balance of retail, office, and residential uses.
Bellingham's urban villages, which are planned to accommodate much of the City's higher-density mixed-use development, are key to preserving neighborhood character while taking advantage of existing infrastructure.
Since adoption of the 2006 Comprehensive Plan, master plans, design standards, and regulations have been developed for six urban villages:
- Downtown
- Waterfront
- Fairhaven
- Fountain
- Samish Way
- Old Town District
A formal urban village plan has not been adopted for the Barkley District, which functions as an urban village in many ways and is identified as an urban development center in the Barkley Neighborhood Plan.
Visit the Urban Village Dashboard for current statistical information on housing, employment and commercial development for each urban village.
Infill Housing
The adoption of the Infill Toolkit is intended to implement comprehensive plan goals and policies encouraging infill development and more efficient use of the remaining developable land. This type of housing focuses on vacant or underused land in urban areas, and helps to reduce sprawl, while encouraging long-term sustainability and housing options for all types of individuals and families.
The Infill Toolkit includes eight traditional housing types that use a limited amount of residential space. Design features are built-in to promote privacy, cohesiveness with the surrounding neighborhood, and interaction with the street.
Scroll through the Infill Toolkit housing types below to learn more.
Small Lot
Allows for affordable, detached single family development at greater density than typical single family zones.
- Lot Sizes: Less than or equal to 5,000 sq. ft.
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.35 or 1,200 sq. ft., whichever is greater.
- Min 40% Open Space required.
- Min 0.3 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
Smaller House consolidated into Small Lot (Ord. 2022-01-002)
Cottages
4 to 8 smaller detached units clustered around shared open space.
- 1,200 sq. ft. max per unit
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6
- Min 40% Open Space required.
- Min 0.3 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
- Each unit has a main entrance on the courtyard
Duplex, Triplex and Fourplex
A building containing 2, 3 or 4 dwelling units on a single lot.
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6
- Min 30% Open Space required.
- Min 0.4 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
(Duplex shown at right)
Shared Courtyard
4 to 6 dwelling units (separate or attached) arranged around a common driveway/courtyard.
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6
- Min 30% Open Space required.
- Min 0.4 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
- Each unit has a main entrance on the courtyard.
Garden Courtyard
4 to 8 dwelling units (separate or attached) arranged around a common garden courtyard.
- 2,000 sq.ft. max per unit
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6
- Min 40% Open Space required.
- Min 0.5 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
- Each unit has a main entrance on the courtyard.
Townhouse
A home in a row of attached homes. Intended to include the best amenities of a single family home in a denser alternative
- Max Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.75
- Min 30% Open Space required.
- Min 0.4 Green Factor Landscaping score
- 1 parking stall required for units under 1,000 sq.ft., larger units require 2 stalls.
- Architecturally compatible design required when within established neighborhoods.
What is Floor Area Ratio (FAR)?
FAR is the gross square footage of a building(s) divided by the square footage of the site
Explore Infill Toolkit projects below:
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The best way to solve complex problems is through education, dialogue, and innovation. Please use the information presented here in your efforts to educate yourself and others, and to facilitate community conversations about housing, housing affordability, and where Bellingham is headed next.
Questions? Email us at planning@cob.org
All data contained in this storymap is subject to the City's Policies and Disclaimers.
Neither the City, nor any department, officer, or employee of the City warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. The City has collected this information for its own purposes from different agencies, businesses, and other sources throughout the City and region. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.
