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Bellingham Real Estate For Sale In WA
In a state already well known for its laid-back attitude, Bellingham, WA, is a great example of a relaxed seaside town where community comes first and everyone lives at their own pace. No slouch in terms of home values, real estate in Bellingham has a wide variety of high-quality single-family homes which, when paired with the city’s strategic location between Vancouver and Seattle, makes Bellingham one of the most sought-after markets in Washington Real Estate.
More About Bellingham WA
This city of 92,000 residents is 54 miles south of Vancouver and 90 miles north of Seattle, with the Salish to the west and endless evergreen forests and farmland to the east. Despite its substantial population, Bellingham, WA feels more like a small town than anything else. With just enough people to have something going on downtown about every week, you’ll find there’s always something to do in Bellingham without feeling overwhelmed as you might in a large city.
For most Bellingham residents, this city is their forever home. Bellingham is not a transitory city, not a springboard to a new place, this is where you come to settle. This is where you make something built to last.
It’s not just all work and no play in Bellingham either. The city has a rich music scene catered towards diverse tastes. The craft beer scene is renowned throughout the state and naturally, Bellingham residents take every chance to explore the breathtaking scenery surrounding their city. Whether you want to sail on the Salish Sea, take a hike in the forested hills to the west, or bike through the countryside, real estate in Bellingham makes a great basecamp for adventure.
Bellingham WA Real Estate Market
Bellingham real estate’s median home price is $614K, making it among the most valuable in Washington, and almost twice the national average. Far from any fluke of the market, these home values can be directly tied to the fact that, averaged over the last twenty years, Bellingham real estate has appreciated over 6% annually. That’s one of the highest appreciation rates you’ll find in the U.S.
It’s safe to say that Bellingham real estate is hot to the touch. Put a home on the market and it’ll be sold in an average of just six days. Whether you’re wanting to purchase your first home or looking for a luxury property near the waterfront, Bellingham real estate market can provide what you seek.
Though renters slightly outnumber homeowners, there are more houses than apartments. Close to half the homes in Bellingham, WA were built within the last 50 years. The city feels fresh, but not brand new, and most neighborhoods have had time to mature and really fit in with the surrounding cityscape. Homes for sale in Bellingham, WA are mostly either two or three bedrooms, with most homes containing more than three bedrooms.
Cities Near Bellingham, WA
Neighborhoods In Bellingham WA
To help you with your home search in Bellingham, WA, we’ve put together a brief look at a few exemplary neighborhoods in the city.
Geneva
If you’re looking for a rural environment with city amenities close at hand, Geneva is the neighborhood for you. Much like its namesake in Switzerland, Geneva sits right alongside a large lake. If you’re lucky enough to purchase a waterfront home, you’ll also have your own private dock where you can tie up a motorboat or dive off of for a quick morning swim. Geneva doesn’t look or feel like a planned gated community that’s an intentional development. Rather it looks like a bunch of people saw the lake, thought “gee it would be nice to live here” and the neighborhood naturally sprang up around the lakeshore in the process.
Edgemoor
A different kind of waterfront neighborhood, Edgemoor sits along Bellingham Bay, with nothing between it and the water save train tracks and a pebbly beach. Edgemoor real estate is composed mainly of large single-family homes made private by the extensive hedges grown up around each house. Just as with Geneva, Edgemoor doesn’t feel planned. Everything here feels relaxed, from the low-key understated architecture of the homes to the plain asphalt roads. The focus here is the natural settling and the blue waters of Bellingham Bay.
Lettered Streets
If you enjoy the city, move close to downtown and check out the neighborhood of Lettered Streets. Lettered Streets only has a little bit of water at the neighborhood’s western edge, the rest is made up of mid-century single-family homes that have a vintage air about them. Lettered Streets is a great example of a revitalized neighborhood of personal gardens, public parks, great places to eat, and a “small-town” feel with downtown Bellingham just a five-minute walk down the street.
Schools In Bellingham WA
Bellingham School District operates schools within Bellingham and has 22 campuses with approximately 12,000 students enrolled. There are many amazing schools in Bellingham with Sehome High School receiving a College Success Award from greatschools.com for its performance in preparing students for college. Lummi Nation School is located on the Lummi reservation but uses a Bellingham address.
Elementary Schools In Bellingham
- Alderwood Elementary School
- Birchwood Elementary School
- Carl Cozier Elementary School
- ColumbiaElementary School
- Cordata Elementary School
- Geneva Elementary School
- Happy Valley Elementary School
- Lowell Elementary School
- Northern Heights Elementary School
- Parkview Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Silver Beach Elementary School
- Sunnyland Elementary School
- Wade King Elementary School
Middle School In Bellingham
- Fairhaven Middle School
- Kulshan Middle School
- Shuksan Middle School
- Whatcom Middle School
High Schools In Bellingham
- Bellingham High School
- Options High School
- Sehome High School
- Squalicum High School
FAQ About Bellingham WA Real Estate
What’s the zip code for Bellingham, Washington?
There are three zip codes for Bellingham:
Where’s the nearest commercial airport to Bellingham, Washington?
The Bellingham International Airport is about 6 miles from Bellingham city center.
What county is Bellingham, Washington in?
Bellingham is in Whatcom County.
How far is Seattle from Bellingham, Washington?
Seattle is 89 miles or about an hour and a half from Bellingham.
Things To Do In Bellingham WA
Museums In Bellingham
- SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention - Through tours, events, and programs experience the world of electrical inventions through the years by seeing rare antique machines, explore first-hand six galleries and displays like the Tesla Coils displaying bursts of lightning, static electricity, and more!
- Mindport - Through several exhibits visitors are encouraged to explore creativity through the physical world by combining art and science with the help of mind, body, stillness, and movement.
- Whatcom Museum - Here at the museum are several exhibits about art, history, Indigenous Cultures, and photographs displaying life in past and present Whatcom. With over 200,000 artifacts and artwork from around the region on rotating displays, there’s always something new to see at the Whatcom Museum.
Bellingham Attractions
- Chuckanut Drive - Take the scenic route home by soaking up the view on the Chuckanut Drive. This roadway twists and turns along steep cliff edges, but provides spectacular views of the water and islands in the distance.
- Mount Baker Theatre - Named after the 11,000-foot glaciated mountain, this popular vintage theater has been restored with all its historical features and decor. The Mount Baker Theatre seats over 3,000 people and hosts everything from concerts to Broadway shows.
- Bellingham Farmers Market - Like clockwork, every Saturday during the spring, summer, and fall months the Bellingham Farmers Market is open. Here you’ll find local farmers coming together to sell their produce. You’ll see several arts and crafts vendors too. Part of the venue is indoors and the other half indoors. It’s not just an opportunity to shop, but a whole experience with live music, mine and juggling, and more!
Parks In Bellingham WA
- Watcom Falls Park - This 241-acre park is one of the most popular parks in Bellingham. The attraction is in the name because Watcom Falls displays beautiful waterfalls. Not only that, but there are miles of forested urban trails leading to a 100-year old railroad trestle. It’s not uncommon to see people getting a quick morning walk or going for a bike ride through the park to exercise.
- Zuanich Point Park - On the banks of Squalicum Harbor, Zuanich Point Park is a 4.4-acre space with a children’s play area, bike path, a walking path, picnic tables, and more! This is also a popular place to host events and boating celebrations.
- Fairhaven Park - This 136-acre park is one of the top rated parks in Bellingham and has a lot to offer. With room to run and play a game of kickball, trails to explore, a playground for kids, and a spray park to cool off it's no wonder this park is a family-favorite.
Living In Bellingham WA
Healthcare In Bellingham, Washington
Located on the Northside of the city, St. Joseph Medical Center, in partnership with PeaceHealth, provides top-quality care for the residents of Bellingham. The Haggen Family Emergency and Trauma Center houses 48 beds and is a level II trauma center. St. Joseph’s also offers a childbirth center.
Weather In Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham’s location in the Puget Sound region offers a generally cool and mild climate. Summer temperatures typically warm up to 90°, while the winter dips around 32°. Bellingham receives an average precipitation of about 35 inches and is also one of the cloudiest cities in the United States.
Jobs In Bellingham WA
The largest industries in Bellingham are healthcare, education, and local and county government. Outside those, some top private industries are retail, power systems and industrial maintenance, aircraft interiors, petroleum refining, and aluminum smelting. The best employers in Bellingham include:
- SPIE
- eXp Realty
- Western Washington University
- The Markets (markets.com)
- Homax Products
Transportation In Bellingham WA
Given Bellingham’s location along the bay, there are a couple of ways people usually commute and move around the city. I-5 is the main thoroughfare in Bellingham, which enters from the northwest and south of the city. Routes 539 and 542 both connect to I-5 in Bellingham. Route 539 enters directly north of Bellingham, while Route 542 enters from the east.
Bellingham also has a cruise terminal that serves as a terminus for the Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry service for passengers and vehicles. There is also a seasonal passenger ferry that connects to Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands.