Home Insurance in Bellingham, Washington
The median home value in Bellingham is $627,500, 7% higher than the Whatcom County median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Bellingham was built around 1986. About 23% of homes were built before 1960, about 6 points above Whatcom County's 18%.
The housing stock in Bellingham is 48% single-family homes, 39% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Bellingham, about 58% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
Bellingham has an owner-occupancy rate of 45% and a vacancy rate of 5%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
57% of homes in Bellingham are primarily heated with electricity.
Whatcom County had 2,187 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is earthquake (Relatively Moderate). See the full Whatcom County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Washington carries a statewide average premium of $1,232 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $627,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1986 |
| Owner-occupied share | 45% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 58% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Whatcom County | 2,187 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,232 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)