Census tract · Whatcom County
Census Tract 104.05, Whatcom County, Washington
Census Tract 104.05, GEOID 53073010405, in Whatcom County, Washington, mostly within Birch Bay (62% of its census blocks). 3,763 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±492); the 2020 Census counted 3,879.
Residents, 2020-2024
3,763
±492 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 3,879
Median household income
$94,167
±$14,250 (90% margin)
Whatcom County: $81,784
Median home value
$664,800
±$77,248 (90% margin)
Whatcom County: $585,800
Median gross rent
$2,297
±$414 (90% margin)
Whatcom County: $1,555
Where is Census Tract 104.05?
Census Tract 104.05 is one of 54 census tracts in Whatcom County, Washington. It covers 5.47 square miles of land, 710 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 53073010405, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
2 census tracts border Census Tract 104.05: Tract 104.06 ($79,728) and Tract 104.09 ($83,293). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 104.05?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 104.05's population at 3,763 (±492) in 1,834 households; the 2020 Census counted 3,879 residents and 2,303 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 104.05 | Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,763 ±492 | 10,837 |
| Households | 1,834 ±230 | 4,661 |
| Average household size | 2.05 ±0.16 | 2.32 |
| Housing units | 2,249 ±192 | 5,974 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 104.05?
The median resident of Census Tract 104.05 is 60.3 years old; 14.2% are under 18 and 37.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 74.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 15.9%. 27.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 104.05 | Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.3 ±4.6 | 44.6 |
| Under 18 years | 14.2% ±3.3 pts | 20.1% |
| 65 years and over | 37.3% ±5.1 pts | 24.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.9% ±7.0 pts | 8.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 74.2% ±7.2 pts | 77.4% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 2.2% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±3.0 pts | 2.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 1.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.7 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±3.3 pts | 9.0% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% |
| Born outside the United States | 27.6% ±7.6 pts | 9.9% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.1% ±6.3 pts | 8.8% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.7% ±3.8 pts | 10.9% |
| With a disability | 9.4% ±3.2 pts | 15.4% |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3% ±4.2 pts | 4.8% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.7% ±5.5 pts | 92.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.7% ±6.0 pts | 32.0% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.9% ±5.3 pts | 12.0% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.2% ±3.7 pts | 90.5% |
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 Census Tract 104.05 earn?
Half of the 1,834 households in Census Tract 104.05 earn less than $94,167 a year (±$14,250), against $81,784 across Whatcom County: 21st highest of the county's 54 tracts with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Tract 104.05 | Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $94,167 ±$14,250 | $86,854 |
| Mean household income | $148,195 ±$37,855 | $103,325 |
| Per capita income | $70,551 ±$16,158 | $46,034 |
| People below the poverty line | 6.4% ±4.5 pts | 9.4% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.9% ±14.0 pts | 8.1% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.9% ±3.6 pts | 13.1% |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±3.7 pts | 95.3% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.9% ±5.8 pts | 88.9% |
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 Census Tract 104.05?
Owners occupy 92.9% of Census Tract 104.05's occupied homes and renters 7.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $664,800 by its owner (±$77,248). The median renter pays $2,297 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Tract 104.05 | Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $664,800 ±$77,248 | $477,200 |
| Median gross rent | $2,297 ±$414 | $1,222 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 16.2% ±23.9 pts | 46.7% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,125 ±$349 | $2,064 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.9% ±4.3 pts | 82.1% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.1% ±4.3 pts | 17.9% |
| Housing units | 2,249 ±192 | 5,974 |
| Single-family detached homes | 87.4% ±5.0 pts | 73.0% |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±2.4 pts | 14.6% |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.7% ±2.5 pts | 2.7% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.2% ±3.2 pts | 9.5% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.9% ±1.7 pts | 3.7% |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 4.5% |
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 Census Tract 104.05 get to work?
67.3% of Census Tract 104.05's workers drive alone and 23.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.8 minutes.
| Measure | Tract 104.05 | Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.1% ±6.8 pts | 54.6% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±2.5 pts | 3.7% |
| Drove alone to work | 67.3% ±10.0 pts | 77.7% |
| Carpooled | 9.7% ±6.3 pts | 6.2% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.2% |
| Walked | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% |
| Worked from home | 23.0% ±9.0 pts | 15.3% |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.8 min ±8.6 | 26.4 min |
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
How does Census Tract 104.05 compare with the other tracts in Whatcom County?
Among Whatcom County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 104.05 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Whatcom County | In Birch Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26th of 54 | 2nd of 4 |
| Residents per square mile | 31st of 54 | 3rd of 4 |
| Median household income | 21st of 54 | 2nd of 4 |
| Per capita income | 5th of 54 | 1st of 4 |
| Median home value | 11th of 54 | 1st of 4 |
| Median gross rent | 2nd of 48 | 1st of 3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25th of 54 | 2nd of 4 |
| Median age | 2nd of 54 | 1st of 4 |
| Owner-occupied share | 7th of 54 | 1st of 4 |
The tracts next to it on Whatcom County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8.08 | 18th | $96,406±$27,687 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 4.02 | 19th | $95,750±$36,948 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 105.05 | 20th | $94,349±$22,772 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 104.05 | 21st | $94,167±$14,250 |
| Tract 105.03 | 22nd | $93,802±$34,118 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 104.07 | 23rd | $93,344±$21,164 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 8.07 | 24th | $91,406±$9,077 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 104.05?
2 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 104.05 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections