The typical owner-occupied home in Whatcom County is worth about $585,800, 4% above the Washington median of $564,600 and 76% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,087 a year in property taxes, about 0.70% of their home's value, lower than the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $81,784 a year, so the median home costs 7.2 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Whatcom County at a glance
| Whatcom County | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $585,800 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,087 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.70% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $81,784 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 64% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 63% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,307 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.3% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,555 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 34.8% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1989 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.2% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 230,503 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Whatcom County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Whatcom County home of $585,800 with 20% down costs about $3,738 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,714, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $160,216 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 55% of the median Whatcom County household income of $81,784; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $299,000.
The median rent here is $1,555 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,183 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $117,160 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $468,640 |
| Principal and interest | $3,153 |
| Property taxes (0.70% a year) | $342 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $244 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,738 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $20,503 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $575,190 |
| Principal and interest | $3,869 |
| Property taxes (0.70% a year) | $342 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $244 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $259 |
| Total per month | $4,714 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Whatcom County
What is the median home value in Whatcom County?
About $585,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Whatcom County?
Homeowners pay a median $4,087 a year, which is about 0.70% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Whatcom County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,738 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $160,216 a year.
More about Whatcom County
- Mortgage Refinance in Whatcom County
- Debt Relief in Whatcom County
- Home Equity Loans in Whatcom County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data