Census-designated place · Washington
Sudden Valley, Washington
Sudden Valley, census-designated place, in Whatcom County, Washington. Sudden Valley had 6,084 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±620). GEOID 5368200.
Residents, 2020-2024
6,084
±620 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 6,354
Median household income
$100,930
±$7,372 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$489,200
±$48,256 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,816
±$290 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Sudden Valley and what county is it in?
Sudden Valley 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 4.3 square miles of land, 1,485 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sudden Valley 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 Sudden Valley, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Sudden Valley's population at 6,084 (±620). The 2020 Census counted 6,354 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Sudden Valley is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Sudden Valley | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,084 ±620 | 230,503 | −1,988 |
| Households | 2,764 ±349 | 94,021 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.13 | 2.40 | −0.47 |
| Housing units | 2,985 ±371 | 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 Sudden Valley?
The median resident of Sudden Valley is 48.6 years old; 15.8% are under 18 and 26.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.9%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sudden Valley | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 ±3.8 | 38.4 | +6.0 |
| Under 18 years | 15.8% ±2.4 pts | 18.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.0% ±5.2 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Male | 48.7% ±3.1 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.9% ±4.4 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.8% ±5.4 pts | 75.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.6% ±4.0 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±3.2 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.0% ±2.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.3% ±3.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1% ±3.8 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.7% ±2.5 pts | 5.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.7% ±1.7 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.1% ±6.0 pts | 39.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.6% ±4.0 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.2% ±4.4 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.1 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 Sudden Valley earn?
Half of Sudden Valley's 2,764 households earn less than $100,930 a year (±$7,372), against $81,784 in Whatcom County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $105,918 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sudden Valley | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $100,930 ±$7,372 | $81,784 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $114,665 ±$10,311 | $109,592 | – |
| Per capita income | $50,904 ±$4,716 | $45,361 | +$7,180 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.6% ±3.1 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.4% ±7.9 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.9% ±2.1 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.7% ±0.6 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.8% ±1.2 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 Sudden Valley?
Owners occupy 92.8% of Sudden Valley's occupied homes and renters 7.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $489,200 by its owner (±$48,256). The median renter pays $1,816 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Sudden Valley | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $489,200 ±$48,256 | $585,800 | +$102,393 |
| Median gross rent | $1,816 ±$290 | $1,555 | −$399 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.8% ±29.1 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,269 ±$122 | $2,307 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.8% ±3.8 pts | 63.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.2% ±3.8 pts | 36.3% | – |
| Housing units | 2,985 ±371 | 103,520 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±18.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 89.5% ±3.7 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.4% ±2.4 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 Sudden Valley work and get to work?
69.2% of Sudden Valley's workers drive alone and 18.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Sudden Valley | Whatcom County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.5% ±5.8 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±2.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 69.2% ±7.2 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4% ±4.4 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.3% ±5.1 pts | 14.8% | +7.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.2 min ±4.4 | 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 Sudden Valley?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Sudden Valley, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $96,406 (Tract 8.08) to $108,250 (Tract 8.09).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8.09Whatcom County | 2,676 | $108,250 |
| Tract 8.08Whatcom County | 2,369 | $96,406 |
| Tract 8.05Whatcom County | 4,854 | $114,740 |
| Tract 8.07Whatcom County | 2,725 | $91,406 |
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 Sudden Valley) · Census block assignment files
How does Sudden Valley compare with other places in Washington?
Sudden Valley ranks 159th 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) | 182nd | 393 |
| Residents per square mile | 192nd | 394 |
| Median household income | 159th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 137th | 393 |
| Median home value | 199th | 384 |
| Median gross rent | 130th | 351 |
| Poverty rate | 179th | 281 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67th | 382 |
| Median age | 52nd | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 30th | 388 |
| Work from home | 131st | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 108th | 394 |
Sudden Valley's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, sortable · Compare Sudden Valley 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 Sudden Valley?
18 of the 57 figures for Sudden Valley 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 Sudden Valley 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.