Bellingham, WA Demographics

A map of Bellingham's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	71,196	68,442	76.2%	74.8%
Hispanic	9,516	8,476	10.2%	9.3%
Multiracial	5,753	6,257	6.2%	6.8%
Asian	4,888	5,425	5.2%	5.9%
Black	1,212	1,253	1.3%	1.4%
Native American/Other	873	1,629	0.9%	1.8%

Bellingham, Washington has an estimated population of 93,438, a slight increase from the 91,482 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 76.2% White, 10.2% Hispanic, 6.2% Multiracial, 5.2% Asian, 1.3% Black, and 0.9% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bellingham, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bellingham has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Washington overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bellingham, that probability was 42.3% in 2020 and 40.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bellingham is ranked the 12th most populous place in Washington, out of 639 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Bellingham was ranked the 13th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Bellingham's White Population

71,196 residents of Bellingham, or 76.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bellingham is considerably higher than in Washington overall, where 63.1% of the population is White. Bellingham ranks 372nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's White population has grown by an estimated 4.0%. White residents' share of Bellingham's population has increased from 74.8% to 76.2%.

Bellingham is more White than neighboring Ferndale (70% White). Bellingham is less White than neighboring Geneva (86.9% White), Marietta-Alderwood (76.8% White), Sudden Valley (77.8% White), and Alger (89.8% White).

Bellingham's Black Population

1,212 residents of Bellingham, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bellingham is slightly lower than in Washington overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Bellingham ranks 161st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's Black population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. Black residents' share of Bellingham's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Bellingham is more Black than neighboring Geneva (0% Black), Marietta-Alderwood (0.2% Black), Sudden Valley (1.1% Black), Ferndale (0.6% Black), and Alger (0% Black).

Bellingham's Asian Population

4,888 residents of Bellingham, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bellingham is slightly lower than in Washington overall, where 9.7% of the population is Asian. Bellingham ranks 100th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's Asian population has declined by an estimated 9.9%. Asian residents' share of Bellingham's population has decreased from 5.9% to 5.2%.

Bellingham is more Asian than neighboring Geneva (0% Asian), Sudden Valley (0.8% Asian), and Alger (4.9% Asian). Bellingham is less Asian than neighboring Marietta-Alderwood (6.7% Asian), and Ferndale (8.4% Asian).

Bellingham's Hispanic Population

9,516 residents of Bellingham, or 10.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bellingham is slightly lower than in Washington overall, where 14.4% of the population is Hispanic. Bellingham ranks 255th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Bellingham's population has increased from 9.3% to 10.2%.

Bellingham is more Hispanic than neighboring Geneva (3% Hispanic), Marietta-Alderwood (2.9% Hispanic), Sudden Valley (9.9% Hispanic), and Alger (5.2% Hispanic). Bellingham is less Hispanic than neighboring Ferndale (12.6% Hispanic).

Bellingham's Native American/Other Population

873 residents of Bellingham, or 0.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bellingham is comparable to the share in Washington overall, where 2.1% of the population is Native American/Other. Bellingham ranks 331st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 46.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bellingham's population has decreased from 1.8% to 0.9%.

Bellingham is more Native American/Other than neighboring Geneva (0.7% Native American/Other), Sudden Valley (0.8% Native American/Other), and Alger (0% Native American/Other). Bellingham is less Native American/Other than neighboring Marietta-Alderwood (2% Native American/Other), and Ferndale (1.9% Native American/Other).

Bellingham's Multiracial Population

5,753 residents of Bellingham, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bellingham is comparable to the share in Washington overall, where 6.8% of the population is Multiracial. Bellingham ranks 244th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bellingham's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 8.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Bellingham's population has decreased from 6.8% to 6.2%.

Bellingham is more Multiracial than neighboring Alger (0% Multiracial). Bellingham is less Multiracial than neighboring Geneva (9.4% Multiracial), Marietta-Alderwood (11.5% Multiracial), Sudden Valley (9.6% Multiracial), and Ferndale (6.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.