The Town FilesBlaine, Washington
City in Whatcom County · population 5,884 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $549,600
- Household income
- $84,030
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.4
Blaine is a city of 5,884 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $549,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks more seaside character than 87% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Washington towns.
How Blaine 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 Blaine is worth $549,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $84,030, which is more affordable than 19% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,450 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blaine | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $549,600 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,450 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $84,030 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Blaine
| People | Blaine | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.1% | — |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Blaine
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 Blaine 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 Blaine itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Blaine
5 public schools with 2,019 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine High School | 9-12 | 589 | 19.0 |
| Blaine Elementary School | 3-5 | 476 | 19.0 |
| Blaine Primary School | PK-2 | 452 | 14.6 |
| Blaine Middle School | 6-8 | 451 | 18.8 |
| Blaine Home Connection | K-8 | 51 | 51.0 |
Towns near Blaine
- Birch Bay, WA4.4 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
- Ferndale, WA11.7 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Lynden, WA13.6 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA16.3 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Everson, WA18.7 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Bellingham, WA20.5 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Geneva, WA22.9 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Sudden Valley, WA25.9 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
Blaine questions
Is Blaine, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blaine scores better for retirees than 42% of Washington towns and quieter than 31%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Blaine?
The median owner-occupied home in Blaine is valued at $549,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,030, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $1,450 a month.
What is the weather like in Blaine?
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 Blaine get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Blaine 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)