Bellingham city, WA

ZIP 98226 — Economy & Jobs

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Income, employment, industries, and economic trends

Income & Economy in Bellingham city, WA (98226)

Median Income

$79,684

*Adjusted for inflation (2023 dollars)

IRS Net Migration

+2,457

Wealth inflow

Population

45,739

Unemployment

4.4%

0.7pp above US avg

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 2,457 for ZIP 98226 (Bellingham city, WA) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Economic Indicators

Unemployment

4.4%+18% vs US avg

Self-Employed

3.3%-45% vs US avg

SNAP Benefits

12.0%+3% vs US avg

1,663

Establishments

24,112

Employees

~14 per establishment — small businesses dominate

Healthcare

Top Industry

Economic Distributions

Census ACS 5-Year (P0): occupation, industry, household income brackets.

Occupation

Industry

Agriculture, forestry, mining1.9%
Construction8.6%
Manufacturing8.4%
Wholesale trade3.5%
Retail trade8.5%
Transportation, utilities5.0%
Information1.5%
Finance, insurance, real estate4.6%
Professional, scientific, management12.9%
Education, health care, social25.4%
Arts, entertainment, food services10.5%
Other services4.6%
Public administration4.5%

Household Income

Historical Trends in 98226 (2020–Present)

Since 2020, population grew 0.8%, median income rose 0.8% (inflation-adjusted), home values increased 25.7%.

Median Income

$79,684

+6% vs US avg

Unemployment Rate