Bellingham Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Bellingham, WA (the Bellingham metro area) was $1,134 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Bellingham was $1,219 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Bellingham median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Bellingham rental vacancy rates, Bellingham rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Bellingham.
Real Gross Rent in Bellingham Washington (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Washington Median Gross Rent | $1,359 | +1.42% | +14.39% |
| Bellingham, WA Median Gross Rent | $1,134 | +0.35% | +14.78% |
Bellingham, WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,134, real median gross rent in Bellingham was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,219, real average gross rent in Bellingham was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Bellingham: Bellingham WA Median, Bellingham WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Bellingham
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Bellingham, WA Median |
Bellingham, WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,134 | $1,219 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $1,130 | $1,157 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,112 | $1,160 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $988 | $1,054 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $987 | $1,025 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $988 | $1,082 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $941 | $994 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $934 | $966 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $957 | $1,035 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $923 | $974 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $891 | $985 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $868 | $918 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $884 | $935 |
Bellingham Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Bellingham Washington was 2.09% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Bellingham Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Bellingham, WA | — | — | — |
Trends in Bellingham, WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Bellingham peaked in 2009 at 5.86%. Since then it has fallen by 3.77% to 2.09%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Bellingham WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Bellingham
| Date | US | Washington | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 2.09% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 2.59% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 1.82% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 1.82% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 4.12% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 5.00% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 5.47% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 4.57% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 3.91% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 5.86% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 1.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 3.95% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Bellingham, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Bellingham, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.62% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Bellingham Washington Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Washington | 20.73% | -0.59% | +0.43% |
| Bellingham, WA | 19.62% | -1.78% | -0.47% |
Trends in Bellingham, WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Bellingham household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.39%. Since then it has fallen by 1.78% to 19.62%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Bellingham WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Bellingham Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 19.62% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 21.39% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 21.14% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 20.08% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 20.29% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 20.93% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 21.38% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 20.47% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 20.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 19.85% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 20.18% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 19.07% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 19.17% |
Renter Fraction in Bellingham Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Bellingham in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Bellingham as a fraction of total Bellingham households. In 2019 35.63% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Bellingham Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Washington | 36.92% | -0.26% | -0.61% |
| Bellingham, WA | 35.63% | -3.01% | -5.06% |
Trends in the Bellingham, WA Renter Fraction
The Bellingham household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 40.69% and is now 5.06% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Bellingham WA, Washington, US
History of Bellingham Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 35.63% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 38.64% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 38.38% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 40.69% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 36.29% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 37.52% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 37.47% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 37.70% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 35.14% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 38.83% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 37.53% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 38.66% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 37.61% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Washington
- / Bellingham
