Census-designated place · Washington
Birch Bay, Washington
Birch Bay, census-designated place, in Whatcom County, Washington. Birch Bay had 10,837 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,030). GEOID 5306190.
Residents, 2020-2024
10,837
±1,030 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 10,115
Median household income
$86,854
±$9,678 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$477,200
±$25,221 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,222
±$548 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Birch Bay and what county is it in?
Birch Bay is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Whatcom County, Washington. It covers 17.1 square miles of land, 592 residents per square mile in 2020.
Birch Bay is in the Bellingham, WA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Birch Bay, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Birch Bay's population at 10,837 (±1,030). The 2020 Census counted 10,115 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Birch Bay is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Birch Bay | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,837 ±1,030 | 230,503 | +1,514 |
| Households | 4,661 ±472 | 94,021 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.15 | 2.40 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,974 ±455 | 103,520 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Birch Bay?
The median resident of Birch Bay is 44.6 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 24.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 9.0%. 9.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Birch Bay | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 ±3.9 | 38.4 | −7.3 |
| Under 18 years | 20.1% ±2.5 pts | 18.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.2% ±3.7 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Male | 52.7% ±2.8 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.1% ±3.1 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.4% ±4.4 pts | 75.7% | −7.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.0 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.0% ±3.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.9% ±3.0 pts | 9.9% | −5.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.8% ±2.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.9% ±3.1 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 15.4% ±3.5 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8% ±2.0 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.5% ±2.6 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.0% ±5.1 pts | 39.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0% ±3.6 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.5% ±3.1 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.1% ±2.2 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Birch Bay earn?
Half of Birch Bay's 4,661 households earn less than $86,854 a year (±$9,678), against $81,784 in Whatcom County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $76,811 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Birch Bay | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $86,854 ±$9,678 | $81,784 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $103,325 ±$10,814 | $109,592 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,034 ±$4,289 | $45,361 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±3.9 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.1% ±6.1 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.1% ±4.9 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.3% ±3.0 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9% ±5.7 pts | 93.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Birch Bay?
Owners occupy 82.1% of Birch Bay's occupied homes and renters 17.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $477,200 by its owner (±$25,221). The median renter pays $1,222 a month including utilities, and 46.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Birch Bay | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $477,200 ±$25,221 | $585,800 | +$139,621 |
| Median gross rent | $1,222 ±$548 | $1,555 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.7% ±19.8 pts | 49.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,064 ±$127 | $2,307 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.1% ±5.6 pts | 63.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.9% ±5.6 pts | 36.3% | – |
| Housing units | 5,974 ±455 | 103,520 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.3% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.7 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.0% ±5.4 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.6% ±4.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.7% ±1.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.5% ±2.8 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.7% ±1.7 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.5% ±3.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Birch Bay work and get to work?
77.7% of Birch Bay's workers drive alone and 15.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Birch Bay | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.6% ±4.2 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.7% ±5.4 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.2% ±2.9 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.3% ±4.9 pts | 14.8% | +11.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.4 min ±2.7 | 21.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Birch Bay?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Birch Bay, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $79,728 (Tract 104.06) to $94,167 (Tract 104.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 104.11Whatcom County | 4,291 | $85,118 |
| Tract 104.05Whatcom County | 3,763 | $94,167 |
| Tract 104.06Whatcom County | 2,090 | $79,728 |
| Tract 104.07Whatcom County | 3,344 | $93,344 |
| Tract 105.04Whatcom County | 3,471 | $108,657 |
| Tract 104.10Whatcom County | 2,373 | $66,719 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Birch Bay) · Census block assignment files
How does Birch Bay compare with other places in Washington?
Birch Bay ranks 227th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 123rd | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 327th | 394 |
| Median household income | 227th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 182nd | 393 |
| Median home value | 208th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 256th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 148th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 172nd | 382 |
| Median age | 107th | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 131st | 388 |
| Work from home | 164th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 208th | 394 |
Birch Bay's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Birch Bay with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Birch Bay?
10 of the 57 figures for Birch Bay on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Birch Bay are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.