People Also Ask: Bellingham, WA Edition

I work in real estate and have found a delightful influx of people moving to Bellingham, Washington or who have visited and are curious about it and I thought I would share some of the common I get asked personally and see appear across the internet.

Is Bellingham a good place to live?

Such a big question! I believe I answered this in my FAQ about Bellingham blog post, but without cheating and looking at what I wrote before and acknowledging today’s snapshot in time. Yes, Bellingham is a good place to live. Single, married, kids or no kids, retirees and college kids, this town really has a great smattering of ages and accessible high-quality options for every stage of life.

Bellingham, like most places can be hard to live in depending on how much money you make. I think that’s a reality that’s true in many places. There are a lot of rentals, which is currently how Chef and I live. We have a wonderful rental with an amazing private landlord and that protects us in way from added costs (property taxes, utilities, home repairs). Renting comes with it’s own downsides but when you can’t afford to buy or aren’t sure what kind of home will be right for the next 5, 10, 30 years, renting for us is a great option and there are many options in Bellingham (for better, and for worse).

Is Bellingham sunnier than Seattle?

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so I really am entertained when people get hung up on the “gray days” or claim it rains all the time. It doesn’t rain all the time and fun fact, we are sunnier than Seattle. According to Crown Science which lets us compare temperatures and rainfall across the World, “On average across the year, Bellingham, Washington has less rain than Seattle, Washington. Bellingham, Washington has an average annual rainfall of 991mm and Seattle, Washington has an average annual rainfall of 1094mm.” — So, less rain means more sunshine, right?

I will say, I feel like Bellingham is a bit more committed to it’s weather. If Washington state is cold, Bellingham will be a bit colder, if it is warm, Bellingham is warmer. Over the recent years, the weather patterns I was used to have certainly shifted so it’s kind of hard to tell these days what the future looks like.

How much do I need to make to live comfortably in Bellingham, Washington?

How much money you need to make to live comfortably depends on your lifestyle. I know people who “Live the Van Life” in Bellingham and love it and their needs differ from my friends who are a family of five.

Looking anecdotally, among the people I know a salary of $60,000 - $90,000 will be great. The biggest factor of course is housing, like we talked about above. Rentals ranges from $1,000 - $2,000 — Can you make it in a studio? Do you need a whole house? There are lot of room-share options in Bellingham as well. Professional adults who share homes. But it is true, home prices here (and rent) are significantly higher than the national average.

There are also additional costs, utilities, groceries, and gas prices are slightly higher than the national average. Though, we just rediscovered Costco Gas and BOY, what a savings it is. You need that membership of course, but you break even on that cost quicker than I’d like to admit.

Why are so many people moving to Bellingham?

This is one I get all the time as a real estate agent. Bellingham is this funky town that can serve you your whole lifetime. There are many people who literally have lived here their whole lives. There are great schools, which most have been renovated recently. There is a college. There are professional careers here — Though you have to be VERY good and lucky to grab one. There are family resources and infrastructure. There is a community. There are senior centers and senior homes. Age 1 to 100, Bellingham has so much for each decade of your life.

You’ll hear this from anyone who visits, it is BEAUTIFUL. And it is. I am regularly stunning by the mountains. Mt. Baker loves to glow with the sun and shimmer different colors depending on the season. The water is viewable from every part of town.

From outside-in, there is something for everyone. Let’s break it down further into pros and cons.

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What are the pros and cons of living in Bellingham?

Pro: The Nature

Water. Mountains. Forests. State Parks. National Parks. Bam. Done.

Con: Minimal Public Transportation

I used the bus a lot in college and it was good. I also interned in Seattle and their bus system ran better. I have no doubt things have changed a bit here and there.

I’ve also ridden the train a few times and it is SUPER fun but often times you’ll need a friend to pick you up or you won’t be getting very far once you’re off the train.

Pro: Solid Local Food Scene

Remember, I haven’t lived in a MANY different places. So I can almost hear the arguments against this. HOWEVER, as someone who grew up in a town not that far away from here — The food there: Abysmal. So I will 100% take the food scene in Bellingham.

We have a lot of good tried-and-true spots that have been around. Some favorites that have faded away due to retirements or economics. But there is always someone new willing to give this area a go with their ideas and I love what I have seen pop up over the years. New pizza spots, Mexican and Filipino cuisine, new sandwich shops. Not to mention if you’re really not finding what you are craving Canada and Seattle aren’t that far away!

Con: Higher Cost of Living

I’m thinking about diving into this in another blog, so keep an eye out. But here is the summary of that blog — When I moved to Bellingham in 2013, I was able to rent a 900 sq. ft. apartment within walking distance to Western Washington University for $800 a month. The following year it got bumped to $880, held steady, and then in like 2016 jumped to $1,200. I saw it increase to about $1,400 at some point — But snapshot for today, looks like it’s “back” to $1,175 and looks the EXACT same as when I rented it in college.

I sooo wish someone had pointed out: “Gee, if rentals are doing this, what’s happening with real estate? Maybe I should buy something or talk to my parents…” And that conversation is still happening today.

So, cost of living aside, which in my anecdotal experience has been the most expensive part of my life, followed by student loans (oops), then taxes, finally, I’ll argue that groceries are next in line.

I’ve only recently felt my face turn into a frown when looking at grocery store prices. Chef and I tend to be fairly mindful about how much we buy, rarely does anything rot in our fridge or expire. Yet more and more shopping can add up and if you don’t have the time or mental prowess to remember, “X is cheaper at Y-Store.” groceries will add up.

Eating out as well. I think we’re just in this weird snapshot in time where you have to clever about where you spend your money.

Pro: Strong Community Circles

When I say these I have two competing visuals in my head. One “community vibe” percolates to, I can wave or smile at strangers and they will do the same. That to me is one level of community. The other visual is the amount of people I see enjoying their hobbies. There are these wonderful microcosms of community groups.

I think my idea of “strong” also comes from the sense of welcoming. If you seek and find your group they’ll welcome you in and I think that takes a strong community to do that.

I’ll also have to write a blog about finding community in Bellingham. I have seen many people who struggle to find their footing/friends/groups as they move here or graduate from college. Not sure if that’s more of a personal disposition or just a fear of the unknown or putting yourself out there. I’ll dive into that another time!

Con: Limited Job Market

I have gotten most of my jobs in Bellingham by answering a random Craigslist ad or sending emails into the void and hoping for the best. There are incredibly talented people who live here but the job market is tough. We are sprinkled with “Mom’n’Pop” shops, seasonal work, a few corporate offerings, but it’s tough.

Most folks will tell you, don’t come here if you don’t have job lined up already or savings you’re prepared to blow through and it’s true. Chef lost his job to a round of lay-offs and the hunt is nothing to sneeze at. It gets exhausting.

The two biggest employers are the hospital and Western Washington University, both are kind of tricky to get your foot in the door. So, either bring your job with you if you can or be prepared to weather the job-market here.

Pro: College Town Atmosphere

I’m putting this down as a pro. It’s atmospheric but it’s not EVERYTHING. I love the influx of college kids in the Fall. Granted between them and their parents they getting confused by the one-way roads, bike lines, and such it can be annoying for a week or so. Yet, the college kids are so interesting and cultivate such goodness.

I adore the events that are centered around the University. We had “Paint Bellingham Blue”, “Back to Bellingham” all these really great community events that bridged WWU to Downtown Bellingham. I’m also impressed with how much the students give back by volunteering. I think that is something unique that keeps this town fueled.

I do wish I had been here when WWU had a football team. That is one thing I had growing up that isn’t present here. My little town where I am from got really into high school football. I didn’t attend other college’s football games but University of Washington and other state colleges sure make it look like a lot of fun.

Con: Rainy Weather

I think I’ve defended the rainy weather somewhere on the blog already because it’s not that bad. Yet simultaneously, I must complain that the pizzly, drizzle rain bums me out. The rain here isn’t like sheets or impressive downpours. It’s just this little sprinkle that will make you wetter than you thing it should and keep you just below the threshold of being warm because — shockingly — you’re wet.

So, the rainy weather gets marked as a con but I also love that it keeps the area green and gorgeous. So, I’ll take the drizzle for that trade.

What is special about Bellingham, WA?

Mmm… I think if I had to sum up what makes Bellingham, Washington special it’s that you can live here at any stage of life and love it. I don’t know if that’s how people who really grew up here feel. But I see kids, teens, college kids, young adults, adults, families, retired people, elders — All enjoying the same areas together. I think that really makes Bellingham special. You can live here for any stage of life.

So, let’s recap what people ask and what you need to know!

Moving to Bellingham, offers lifestyle options for anyone if you have the means to fund it. Try and land a job beforehand, know that housing costs in both rentals and home purchases will be more than you expect. There is a community here if you know where to find it! The weather will be something you notice or don’t. You wallet will feel some wear and tear on the daily things. You can find the lifestyle and culture you want and enjoy a "community feel" with a smidge of big-city anonymity.

But in reality, if you come to visit or want to start with the bare minimum: just go get yourself a nice waterproof coat, shoes, and a vitamin D supplement and you’ll be fine. See ya, here!