How expensive is it to live in Whatcom County? Two studies look at the data
Two national studies confirm something many Whatcom County residents already know: This area remains an expensive place to live.
Using federal data on consumer goods, services, and housing, Porch.com estimates the Bellingham metro area (Whatcom County) was the 13th least affordable among 205 small metro areas in 2020. According to the study, Whatcom County鈥檚 overall cost of living was 2.3% above the national average, putting it in a group of communities like Bend, Oregon, (up 2.2%), Mount Vernon (up 2.3%) and Boulder, Colorado, (up 2.6%). Napa, California, was the least affordable among small metros, with an overall cost of living 11.4% above the national average.
Contributing to the high cost of living in Whatcom County was housing (3.9% above the national average) and goods (4.1% above the national average). Whatcom residents catch a break with utility bills, coming in 8.9% below the national average.
Another study focused on household bills in 2022, and Bellingham was again higher than the national average. According to the website Doxo.com, household bills in Bellingham are $2,160 a month, 7.9% higher than the national average. The study, which uses proprietary data collection information, indicates Bellingham residents pay higher than the national average for a mortgage, auto loans, utility bills, health care and mobile phone bills.
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