Bellingham, WA Eviction Risk Score Island County · Washington · Population 93,438

Bellingham, WA has an eviction risk score of 5.8 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Island County and the state of Washington. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 37.2% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Bellingham is $1,577/month. About 55.4% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 18.3%, unemployment 5.6%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Island County voted Democratic by 12.0 points — classified as moderately tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.8/10, Bellingham is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.

Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison

Landlord Guides & Research Tools

Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.

• Rent Control Cities 2026 — Full National List & Map
• Best Cities for Landlords 2026 — see where Bellingham ranks nationally
• Most Rent-Burdened Cities in America — ACS 2023 leaderboard
• Washington Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Washington
• Island County — compare every city in the county