Bellingham, WA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Bellingham, WA Crime

Is Bellingham, WA safe in 2026?

Bellingham earns an overall crime grade of B citywide, but its neighborhood-level picture is even more encouraging: the city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A). Of the 27 neighborhoods analyzed, 85.2% (23 neighborhoods) hold a Grade A, and the remaining 14.8% (4 neighborhoods) hold a Grade B — meaning 100% of Bellingham neighborhoods fall into the safe A–B range. Not a single neighborhood grades below a B, which is exceptional compared to most U.S. cities of similar size. For context, areas like Silver Beach (A+), Geneva (A+), and Whatcom Falls (A) represent the strong safety baseline that defines daily life for most Bellingham residents.

What is the crime rate in Bellingham, WA?

Bellingham's crime profile in 2026 is defined by its B overall crime grade and a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A). Across all 27 analyzed neighborhoods, zero neighborhoods received a C, D, or F grade — a statistic that sets Bellingham apart. The neighborhoods with the highest relative crime levels are King Mountain (B) and Irongate (B), yet even these areas remain solidly in the safe tier. Neighborhoods like Birchwood (B+) and Cordata (B+) sit just a step below the A-rated majority. The distribution — 85.2% Grade A, 14.8% Grade B — indicates that elevated crime is the exception rather than the rule in Bellingham.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Bellingham?

Five Bellingham neighborhoods earned the top Grade A+ distinction in 2026:

• Silver Beach — Population 3,198; median income $103,260. The city's highest-income neighborhood and a consistent safety leader.
• Geneva — Population 1,152; median income $98,406. A smaller, tight-knit community with an outstanding safety record.
• Western Washington University — Population 2,993; median income $37,374. Notably, this A+ grade demonstrates that safety here isn't driven by income alone — community density and engagement play a role.
• Sudden Valley — Population 2,361; median income $89,510. A residential enclave with strong safety outcomes.
• Columbia — Population 2,738; median income $81,196. Rounds out the A+ tier with consistent low-crime performance.

Just behind them, neighborhoods like Alabama Hill (A), Cornwall Park (A), Samish (A), and Whatcom Falls (A) also deliver excellent safety grades, giving homebuyers and renters a wide range of secure options across Bellingham.

Which Bellingham neighborhoods have higher crime?

Even Bellingham's relatively higher-crime neighborhoods are objectively safe by most standards. The areas with the highest crime grades in the city are King Mountain (B) and Irongate (B), followed by Birchwood (B+) and Cordata (B+). Happy Valley grades at A-, placing it just below the top tier but still firmly in the safe category. Critically, a Grade B means these neighborhoods are above average in safety nationally — the B grade simply reflects slightly more activity relative to Bellingham's own very high baseline. No neighborhood in the city received a C, D, or F, meaning there are no high-crime zones in Bellingham by conventional measures.

Is Bellingham a good place to live in 2026?

By the numbers, Bellingham makes a compelling case. The city's 100% of neighborhoods grading A or B for safety is the headline statistic — but it's supported by broader context: a population of 129,653, a median household income of $56,198, a median home value of $404,687, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The poverty rate of 20% is worth noting as a socioeconomic factor, though it has not translated into widespread crime across neighborhoods. Median rent of $1,133 remains relatively accessible for the Pacific Northwest. Whether you're drawn to the university environment near Western Washington University (A+), the waterfront character of Silver Beach (A+), or the residential feel of Cornwall Park (A), Bellingham's safety data consistently supports it as one of Washington state's more livable mid-sized cities.

How does Bellingham compare to other Washington cities for safety?

Bellingham's safety profile — 85.2% of neighborhoods graded A, 14.8% graded B, and 0% graded C or below — places it among the safer mid-sized cities in Washington. The complete absence of D- or F-rated neighborhoods is a meaningful differentiator. Cities of comparable or larger population often show a wider spread of grades, including high-crime pockets. Bellingham's city-wide Very Safe (A) rating reflects a community where even the lower-graded neighborhoods like King Mountain (B) and Irongate (B) would be considered safe in many other metro contexts. For families, students at Western Washington University, and professionals relocating to the Pacific Northwest, this grade distribution provides a data-backed foundation for confidence in the city's overall safety.