The Town FilesBirch Bay, Washington
Community in Whatcom County · population 10,115 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $477,200
- Household income
- $86,854
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 44.6
Birch Bay is a community of 10,115 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $477,200, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Washington towns, easier by car than 88% of Washington towns, more seaside character than 84% of Washington towns.
How Birch Bay ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Birch Bay is worth $477,200, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $86,854, which is more affordable than 44% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,222 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birch Bay | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $477,200 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,222 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $86,854 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.0% | — |
Who lives in Birch Bay
| People | Birch Bay | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Birch Bay
July highs average 72.8°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.3 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Birch Bay since 1950.
Severe weather in Whatcom County since 1996
Whatcom County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 5, 2022 | Flood | DR-4635: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Whatcom County
Whatcom County had 93,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,174 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Birch Bay itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Birch Bay
- Blaine, WA4.4 mi · 5,884 people · home $549,600
- Ferndale, WA8.5 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA12.7 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Lynden, WA13.3 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Bellingham, WA17.2 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Everson, WA17.8 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Geneva, WA19.8 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Sudden Valley, WA22.9 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
Birch Bay questions
Is Birch Bay, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birch Bay scores better for retirees than 73% of Washington towns and quieter than 65%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Birch Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Birch Bay is valued at $477,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,854, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,222 a month.
What is the weather like in Birch Bay?
July highs average 72.8°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 9.3 inches of snow.
Does Birch Bay get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Birch Bay in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)