#53. Bellingham, WA
| Bellingham, WA Quality of Life Liv Score 617 How We Calculate Our Data |
|---|
| Civics | 57 |
| Demographics | 29 |
| Economy | 74 |
| Education | 65 |
| Health | 59 |
| Housing | 55 |
| Infrastructure | 51 |
| Amenities | 65 |
Why Bellingham is one of the best cities to live in
No matter which way the compass points, Bellingham, WA, residents have outdoor adventures awaiting, notably the San Juan Islands to the west and Mt. Baker to the east. Bellingham, which is about 90 miles outside of Seattle, is where the Washington coastline and Canadian border meet, and its cute-as-can-be downtown area offers a mix of eateries, art galleries, theaters and shops. Bellingham is a supportive, business-friendly town right on the water of Bellingham Bay with a wide array of outdoor recreation opportunities, both on the water and on land.
This Pacific Northwest town is among the best places to live in the U.S., largely because of all these great amenities. With a population of just under 93,000, locals enjoy Bellingham’s active waterfront port, an abundance of parks, nature trails and waterfalls. Of course, if all that exploring works up an appetite, plenty of restaurants serve up the catch of the day.Â
Medical services and higher education are the top industries in Bellingham, with St. Joseph Hospital, Lummi Nation, Western Washington University, Bellingham Public Schools and Whatcom County being the top employers.Â
Bellingham Technical College, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College & Northwest Indian College
The summers are comfortable and cool, with average temperatures in the mid-70s. Winters are cold, wet and cloudy, with highs in the 40s.Â
Become a weekend regular at Whatcom Falls Park, which has waterfalls, a 100-year-old railroad trestle, miles of serene forested trails, playgrounds and a fishing pond.Â
Bellingham, WA is Remote-Ready
Bellingham is an excellent spot for telecommuters looking to live in an exciting city without breaking the bank, thanks to zero corporate or personal income taxes. This is a university town, which means a young population, plenty of bars and cafes for remote working and tons of opportunities for professional connections. Bellingham also offers robust high-speed internet that can support several people at once, abundant options for continuing education, networking opportunities and large and small coworking spaces.
What Locals Love in Bellingham, WA
Henderson Books is chock-full of one-of-a-kind books, hidden treasures and out-of-print books. With more than 300,000 books in stock at any given time, you can spend days browsing all the titles at the new and used book store.
Whale watching isn’t just for tourists! Spend the afternoon exploring Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands while keeping an eye out for those iconic black-and-white orcas.Â
Home to the famous 500-foot boardwalk perched on the water of Bellingham Bay, Boulevard Park is one of the most popular urban parks in the state. After walking the boardwalk, families can go swimming, have a bay-front picnic, relax on the beach or play on the playground.Â
Have a slice of peanut butter pie and sip on a glass of champagne at Colophon Cafe. Located in the heart of Bellingham’s historic Fairhaven Village, the patio provides the perfect people-watching environment while catching up with friends.Â
Bellingham is a bona fide beer city: It’s home to 15 breweries!Â
Thinking of Moving to Bellingham, Washington?
You’ll find listings of Bellingham homes for sale as well as all of Washington real estate on eXp Realty and you can refine your search. These top-rated real estate agents in Bellingham are local eXperts and are ready to answer your questions about the best new neighborhoods.
Quick Facts About Bellingham, WA
- Average Commute
- 17.5
- Median Home Value
- $702,601
- Med. Household Income
- $56,198
- Total Population
- 92,289
- Walk Score
- 44
- Median Property Tax
- $3,212
