Census-designated place · Washington

Marietta-Alderwood, Washington

Marietta-Alderwood, census-designated place, in Whatcom County, Washington. Marietta-Alderwood had 4,015 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,754 (±510). GEOID 5343491.

Residents, 2020 Census

4,015

Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 3,754 ±510

Median household income

$76,019

±$16,674 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141

Median home value

$547,100

±$89,673 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600

Median gross rent

$1,496

±$168 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760

Where is Marietta-Alderwood and what county is it in?

Marietta-Alderwood 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 5.8 square miles of land, 690 residents per square mile in 2020.

Marietta-Alderwood is in the Bellingham, WA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Marietta-Alderwood (marked with a dot) in Whatcom County, Washington. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Marietta-Alderwood, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 4,015 residents in Marietta-Alderwood, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 3,754 (±510).

The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Marietta-Alderwood is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Marietta-AlderwoodWhatcom CountyWashington Change since 2015-2019
Total population 3,754 ±510 230,503 7,816,116 no clear change
Households 1,638 ±230 94,021 3,064,820 no clear change
Average household size 2.29 ±0.20 2.40 2.50 no clear change
Housing units 1,670 ±237 103,520 3,306,620 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 Marietta-Alderwood?

The median resident of Marietta-Alderwood is 38.3 years old; 16.2% are under 18 and 22.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 11.5%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Marietta-AlderwoodWhatcom CountyWashington Change since 2015-2019
Median age 38.3 ±3.7 38.4 38.3 no clear change
Under 18 years 16.2% ±4.4 pts 18.5% 21.4% –
65 years and over 22.3% ±4.3 pts 18.9% 16.6% –
Male 54.5% ±4.9 pts 49.6% 50.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.9% ±2.0 pts 10.6% 14.4% –
White alone, not Hispanic 76.8% ±9.0 pts 75.7% 63.1% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.4 pts 0.9% 3.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 6.7% ±6.0 pts 4.4% 9.7% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±1.2 pts 1.6% 0.8% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 1.0% ±1.0 pts 0.2% 0.7% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 11.5% ±6.8 pts 6.2% 6.8% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.4 pts 0.4% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 5.9% ±3.0 pts 9.9% 15.4% −6.6 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 9.3% ±5.3 pts 12.5% 21.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 8.5% ±3.6 pts 6.3% 7.8% –
With a disability 11.6% ±4.8 pts 14.3% 13.6% –
No health insurance coverage 4.4% ±3.1 pts 5.8% 6.3% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 92.3% ±3.9 pts 93.8% 92.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 33.9% ±7.0 pts 39.3% 39.6% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 9.1% ±4.5 pts 14.9% 15.6% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 87.4% ±7.0 pts 84.9% 85.5% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.6% ±0.8 pts 2.6% 2.9% –

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 Marietta-Alderwood earn?

Half of Marietta-Alderwood's 1,638 households earn less than $76,019 a year (±$16,674), against $81,784 in Whatcom County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $62,529 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Marietta-AlderwoodWhatcom CountyWashington Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $76,019 ±$16,674 $81,784 $98,141 no clear change
Mean household income $112,682 ±$23,894 $109,592 $134,588 –
Per capita income $52,223 ±$9,285 $45,361 $53,744 +$17,739
People below the poverty line 7.9% ±4.9 pts 12.9% 9.9% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 3.9% ±6.6 pts 13.6% 11.6% –
Households receiving SNAP 11.0% ±6.3 pts 11.7% 11.5% –
Households with a computer 99.0% ±1.1 pts 97.6% 97.1% –
Households with a broadband subscription 95.8% ±2.7 pts 93.7% 93.6% –

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 Marietta-Alderwood?

Owners occupy 57.6% of Marietta-Alderwood's occupied homes and renters 42.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $547,100 by its owner (±$89,673). The median renter pays $1,496 a month including utilities, and 44.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Marietta-AlderwoodWhatcom CountyWashington Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $547,100 ±$89,673 $585,800 $564,600 +$113,280
Median gross rent $1,496 ±$168 $1,555 $1,760 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 44.0% ±13.0 pts 49.6% 40.1% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,979 ±$495 $2,307 $2,445 –
Owner-occupied homes 57.6% ±8.1 pts 63.7% 63.8% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 42.4% ±8.1 pts 36.3% 36.2% –
Housing units 1,670 ±237 103,520 3,306,620 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 3.3% ±4.7 pts 0.9% 0.7% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±5.6 pts 2.6% 4.5% –
Single-family detached homes 46.9% ±8.9 pts 62.8% 61.9% –
Mobile homes 8.0% ±6.1 pts 6.3% 5.5% –
Built 2020 or later 0.6% ±1.0 pts 2.4% 2.3% –
Built 2010 to 2019 5.3% ±3.8 pts 12.2% 12.1% –
Built 1939 or earlier 11.4% ±6.6 pts 11.5% 9.6% –
Households with no vehicle 3.3% ±3.7 pts 6.4% 7.1% –

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 Marietta-Alderwood work and get to work?

89.8% of Marietta-Alderwood's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 17.9 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Marietta-AlderwoodWhatcom CountyWashington Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 66.5% ±7.1 pts 63.1% 64.5% –
Unemployment rate 2.6% ±2.4 pts 4.8% 5.1% –
Drove alone to work 89.8% ±5.9 pts 69.2% 63.4% –
Carpooled 0.6% ±0.8 pts 7.5% 8.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±1.9 pts 1.8% 3.4% –
Walked 0.6% ±1.1 pts 3.9% 3.0% –
Worked from home 8.0% ±5.3 pts 14.8% 19.8% –
Mean travel time to work 17.9 min ±2.3 21.6 min 26.6 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 Marietta-Alderwood?

1 census tract lies mostly in Marietta-Alderwood, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Marietta-Alderwood, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Marietta-Alderwood
Tract 2.01Whatcom County4,830 $69,592 $558,40063%
Tract 3.01Whatcom County4,942 $61,526 $580,90022%

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 Marietta-Alderwood) · Census block assignment files

How does Marietta-Alderwood compare with other places in Washington?

Marietta-Alderwood ranks 284th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Marietta-Alderwood's rank in Washington (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population (ACS 2020-2024)228th393
Residents per square mile310th394
Median household income284th387
Per capita income128th393
Median home value168th384
Median gross rent207th351
Poverty rate174th281
Bachelor's degree or higher155th382
Median age223rd394
Owner-occupied share315th388
Travel time to work353rd394

Marietta-Alderwood's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)

Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Marietta-Alderwood 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 Marietta-Alderwood?

20 of the 57 figures for Marietta-Alderwood 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 Marietta-Alderwood 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.