Twin Lakes Panorama by Andy Porter, Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (31296255953) · Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
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Whatcom County, Washington
230,503 residents · Updated Nov 12, 2026
The community services in Whatcom County, from the data behind Range Lab’s tools, refreshed daily.
Twin Lakes Panorama by Andy Porter, Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (31296255953) · Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
34,117 ±1,130
36% of occupied homes
$51,629 ±3,483
Affords $1,291/month at 30% of income
42% of area median income(what renters pay)
$1,555 ±39
Includes utilities; renters already housed
2.6%
Vacant units for rent, of rental stock
What renters can afford vs. typical asking rent
HUD FY2026 income limits at 30% of income, against today’s median asking rent.
30% AMI
Extremely low income
50% AMI
Very low income
80% AMI
Low income
100% AMI
Median income
2 bedroom
—
Median asking rent
Renter cost burden by income band
HUD CHAS 2018-2022. Column width is renter households in each band; height is the share paying 30–50% or 50%+ of income on rent.
All renters: 52% cost-burdened, 27% severely (CHAS). Census ACS 2024: 60% and 30%. HUD doesn’t publish the burden split above 80% AMI.
Typical rent over time vs. what incomes can afford
Zillow’s typical rent since September 2023 against the 2-bedroom rent affordable at 50% and 80% of AMI (HUD FY2026).
| September 2023 | $1,855 |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | $1,867 |
| November 2023 | $1,857 |
| December 2023 | $1,854 |
| January 2024 | $1,858 |
| February 2024 | $1,872 |
| March 2024 | $1,873 |
| April 2024 | $1,872 |
| May 2024 | $1,872 |
| June 2024 | $1,874 |
| July 2024 | $1,885 |
| August 2024 | $1,898 |
| September 2024 | $1,899 |
| October 2024 | $1,902 |
| November 2024 | $1,904 |
| December 2024 | $1,921 |
| January 2025 | $1,914 |
| February 2025 | $1,917 |
| March 2025 | $1,918 |
| April 2025 | $1,935 |
| May 2025 | $1,941 |
| June 2025 | $1,948 |
| July 2025 | $1,946 |
| August 2025 | $1,935 |
| September 2025 | $1,935 |
| October 2025 | $1,937 |
| November 2025 | $1,948 |
| December 2025 | $1,946 |
| January 2026 | $1,957 |
| February 2026 | $1,958 |
| March 2026 | $1,963 |
| April 2026 | $1,961 |
| May 2026 | $1,963 |
| June 2026 | $1,968 |
| July 2026 | $1,973 |
| August 2026 | $1,984 |
Around the county
Median household income (all)
$81,784 ±2,688
Renters earn 63% of this
Poverty rate
12.9%
of 230,503 residents
Key takeaways
About 8 in 10 renters below 50% AMI are cost-burdened
81% of extremely low-income and 81% of very low-income renter households pay more than 30% of income on rent; 71% of the lowest band pay half or more.
Rent affordability gap by unit size
Median asking rent vs. what a household at 30% of area median income can afford. HUD sizing: one person for a studio, 1.5 per bedroom. Select a size to update the charts above.
Sources: Census ACS 5-year (2024) · HUD CHAS (2018-2022) · HUD FY2026 income limits · Zillow ZORI. How this is calculated.