Bellingham, WA · standard
ZIP Code 98229
Whatcom County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 30,321
- 239/sq mi High-density area
- $90,945
- Median income Above-median income area
- $633,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 53.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bellingham pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 8%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 239
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 98229 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 98229 (Bellingham, WA) rose +7.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 388.4 in 2023 to 417.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 98229 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, with 30,321 residents across 127.1 square miles, a density of 239 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 98229 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,945 (0% above the average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $51,213. The poverty rate is 9.0%, with unemployment at 5.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $633,500 (24% above the average Washington ZIP), while 69.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,670.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 53.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.1, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Whatcom County, so 98229 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 98229
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bellingham, WA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 98229.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
108 establishments
- Construction
Construction
100 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
71 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
66 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
61 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 98229, Bellingham, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
30,321
Population
127.1
Area (sq mi)
239
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 98229?
39.1
Median Age
51.1%
Male
48.9%
Female
8.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$90,945
Median Household Income
+0% vs state ZIP avg
$51,213
Per Capita Income
9.0%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 98229 ranks nationally
Bellingham, WA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$90,945 Top 26% higher than 74% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
14,543housing units
14,543
Total Housing Units
13,712
Occupied Units
831
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$633,500
Median Home Value
+24% vs state ZIP avg
$1,670
Median Rent
1987
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.5%
YoY Change (2024)
417
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+317%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 98229 have increased 7.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +317% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.9% | 271 |
| 2021 | +15.0% | 312 |
| 2022 | +21.7% | 380 |
| 2023 | +2.3% | 388 |
| 2024 | +7.5% | 417 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 673 business establishments in ZIP 98229, employing approximately 4,910 people with a combined annual payroll of $252,630,000.
673
Businesses
4,910
Employees
$252.6M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 108 | 16.1% |
| Construction | 100 | 14.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 71 | 10.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 66 | 9.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 61 | 9.1% |
| Retail trade | 52 | 7.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 48 | 7.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 5.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 4.0% |
| Educational services | 20 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 18 | 2.7% |
| Information | 15 | 2.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 1.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 1.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 8 | 1.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 98229 vs 98226 →
ZIP 98229 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98225
Bellingham (98225)
46,172 residents
- 98226
Bellingham (98226)
41,235 residents
- 98229
Bellingham (98229)
30,321 residents
- 98232 3,920
Bow (98232)
3,920 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 98229 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 98229 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 98232
Bow (98232)
$104,559 median income
- 98229
Bellingham (98229)
$90,945 median income
- 98226
Bellingham (98226)
$79,375 median income
- 98225
Bellingham (98225)
$63,941 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 98229 ranks #2 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 98229, both outside WA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (30,321 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Whatcom County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 98229 in?
ZIP code 98229 (Bellingham) is located in Whatcom County, Washington. Whatcom County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/whatcom-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 98229?
ZIP code 98229 in Bellingham, WA has a population of 30,321 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 98229?
The median household income in ZIP 98229 is $90,945, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 98229?
The median home value in ZIP 98229 is $633,500, which is 128% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 98229?
The largest racial group in ZIP 98229 is White at 78.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 98229?
ZIP code 98229 has 673 business establishments employing approximately 4,910 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 98229?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 98229 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (108), Construction (100), Real estate and rental and leasing (71). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 98229?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 98229 increased by 7.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 317%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 98229?
In ZIP code 98229, 64.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 98229?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 98229 is 20.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 98229?
In ZIP code 98229, approximately 69.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 30.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 98229?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 98229 is 9.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 98229's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 98229 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bellingham, WA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.