2023 Whatcom County, Washington Demographics | Data & Analysis
Ready-to-use reports, analytics, and visualizations covering Whatcom County, Washington, including population, race, income, and more. Based on 2023 American Community Survey Estimates.
Whatcom County, Washington Key Demographic Statistics (2023 Estimates)
Key demographic statistics for Whatcom County, Washington summarized from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Population: Age & Gender Distribution
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the total population of Whatcom County, Washington is 228,432. The median age of the population in Whatcom County, Washington is 38.2 years. The median age for males is 37.5 years, and for females it is 38.9 years.
The age distribution of the population in Whatcom County, Washington by age group is as follows:
| Age Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 4.73% |
| 5–17 years (children) | 14.15% |
| 18–24 years (young adults) | 13.10% |
| 25–34 years | 13.81% |
| 35–54 years | 23.91% |
| 55–64 years | 11.82% |
| 65 years and over (seniors) | 18.50% |
The total dependency ratio in Whatcom County, Washington is 59.68. The youth dependency ratio is 30.14, and the old-age dependency ratio is 29.54. In demographic terms, the dependency ratio measures the size of the population typically not in the labor force (children under 18 and older adults 65+) relative to the working age (18-64) population. A higher ratio indicates a greater financial and social burden on the working population to support the non-working age groups.
What is the Racial and Ethnic Breakdown of Whatcom County, Washington?
The racial makeup and ethnic composition (racial demographics) of Whatcom County, Washington is detailed below, based on the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates.
The Diversity Index for Whatcom County, Washington is calculated at 40.41, suggesting a moderate level of racial and ethnic diversity. This index measures the probability that two people chosen at random will be from different racial or ethnic groups.
The following table provides the breakdown of the population of Whatcom County, Washington by race and ethnicity:
| Racial/Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White Alone (Non-Hispanic) | 76.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (Any Race) | 10.36% |
| Two or More Races | 6.11% |
| Asian Alone | 4.22% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native Alone | 1.68% |
| Black/African American Alone | 0.84% |
| Some Other Race Alone | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Alone | 0.26% |
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Demographics: Household Income Distribution
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the median household income in Whatcom County, Washington over the past 12 months, adjusted for 2023 inflation, was $80,989. This figure is based on a total of 92,411 households.
The distribution of household income in Whatcom County, Washington across various income brackets is as follows:
| Income Range | Percentage of Households |
|---|---|
| Less than $20,000 | 10.97% |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 8.67% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 10.63% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 16.79% |
| $75,000 to $149,999 | 33.16% |
| $150,000 or more | 19.78% |
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Demographics: Property Value Distribution
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the distribution of property values for owner-occupied housing units in Whatcom County, Washington is based on a total of 58,708 properties.
The property value distribution in Whatcom County, Washington across various value brackets is as follows:
| Property Value Range | Percentage of Properties |
|---|---|
| Less than $25,000 | 1.65% |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | 1.19% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 2.10% |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 3.08% |
| $200,000 to $499,999 | 37.22% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 52.52% |
| $1,000,000 or more | 2.25% |
Educational Attainment in Whatcom County, Washington (2023 Data)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the educational attainment data covers the population 25 years and older in Whatcom County, Washington, totaling 155,393 individuals.
A significant portion of the population, 93.77%, has attained a high school diploma or higher. Furthermore, the percentage of individuals who hold a Bachelor's Degree or a higher professional/graduate degree is 38.09%.
The detailed breakdown by educational level is presented below:
| Educational Attainment Level | Percentage of Population 25+ |
|---|---|
| Less than high school graduate | 6.23% |
| High school graduate (incl. equivalency) | 21.36% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 34.32% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 23.45% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 14.63% |
What is the Health Insurance Coverage Rate in Whatcom County, Washington?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the health insurance coverage data for Whatcom County, Washington shows that 5.6% of the population lacks health insurance coverage. This represents 12,782 individuals out of a total population of 226,816 people.
The uninsured rates vary significantly by age group. Young adults (18-34 years) have uninsured rates of 10.9% for males and 9.2% for females. In the 35-64 age bracket, 7.7% of males and 5.9% of females are uninsured.
Children under 18 and seniors aged 65+ generally have higher coverage rates due to public programs like Medicaid/CHIP and Medicare. In Whatcom County, Washington, uninsured rates for children are 3.2% for males and 2.4% for females, while seniors have rates of 0.6% for males and 0.3% for females.
| Age Group | Male Uninsured % | Female Uninsured % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 3.2% | 2.4% |
| 18-34 years | 10.9% | 9.2% |
| 35-64 years | 7.7% | 5.9% |
| 65+ years | 0.6% | 0.3% |
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Population by Nativity and Citizenship Status
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the nativity and citizenship data for Whatcom County, Washington shows that 95.6% of the population are U.S. citizens. This includes both native-born and naturalized citizens, representing 218,314 individuals out of a total population of 228,432 people.
The nativity breakdown reveals diverse origins: 87.9% were born in the United States, 0.2% were born in Puerto Rico or U.S. Island Areas, and 2.0% were born abroad of American parent(s).
Among the foreign-born population, 5.5% of the total population have become naturalized U.S. citizens (12,455 individuals), while 4.4% are non-citizens (10,118 individuals).
| Nativity/Citizenship Status | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Born in the United States | 87.9% |
| Born in Puerto Rico or U.S. Island Areas | 0.2% |
| Born abroad of American parent(s) | 2.0% |
| U.S. citizen by naturalization | 5.5% |
| Not a U.S. citizen | 4.4% |
| Total U.S. Citizens | 95.6% |
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Demographics: Means of Transportation to Work
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the commuting patterns for Whatcom County, Washington show that 78.3% of workers commute by car, truck, or van. This represents 86,990 workers out of a total workforce of 111,136 people.
Public transportation usage stands at 1.9% (2,133 workers), which includes buses, subways, light rail, commuter trains, and ferries, but excludes taxicabs. Active transportation methods include walking (3.4%) and bicycling (1.9%).
13.3% of workers in Whatcom County, Washington report working from home. An additional 1.1% use other means such as taxicabs, motorcycles, or other forms of transportation. These alternative commuting patterns reflect changing work arrangements and transportation preferences in the modern workforce.
| Transportation Method | Percentage | Number of Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Car, truck, or van | 78.3% | 86,990 |
| Public transportation | 1.9% | 2,133 |
| Bicycle | 1.9% | 2,131 |
| Walked | 3.4% | 3,828 |
| Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means | 1.1% | 1,220 |
| Worked from home | 13.3% | 14,834 |
| Total Workers | - | 111,136 |
Whatcom County, Washington 2023 Demographics: Employment by Class of Worker
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates, the civilian employed population aged 16 and over in Whatcom County, Washington totals 113,292 workers. Of these, 59,658 (52.7%) are male and 53,634 (47.3%) are female.
The employment distribution by class of worker in Whatcom County, Washington is as follows:
| Employment Class | Male Workers | Female Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 43,986 (38.8%) | 32,888 (29.0%) |
| Private Non-Profit | 3,209 (2.8%) | 6,681 (5.9%) |
| Government (All Levels) | 7,965 (7.0%) | 9,838 (8.7%) |
| • Local Government | 3,256 | 5,275 |
| • State Government | 2,956 | 3,688 |
| • Federal Government | 1,753 | 875 |
| Self-Employed | 4,424 (3.9%) | 4,129 (3.6%) |
Class of worker categorizes employed civilians by their employment arrangement. Private sector workers are employed by for-profit or non-profit companies. Government workers include those employed at local, state, or federal levels. Self-employed workers operate their own unincorporated businesses. Understanding the class of worker distribution provides insights into the economic structure and employment diversity of Whatcom County, Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The age breakdown for the population of Whatcom County, Washington is detailed below, showing the percentage of the total population for each group:
| Age Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 4.73% |
| 5–17 years (children) | 14.15% |
| 18–24 years (young adults) | 13.10% |
| 25–34 years | 13.81% |
| 35–54 years | 23.91% |
| 55–64 years | 11.82% |
| 65 years and over (seniors) | 18.50% |