The Town FilesPeaceful Valley, Washington
Community in Whatcom County · population 3,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $317,800
- Household income
- $59,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.9
Peaceful Valley is a community of 3,015 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $317,800, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Washington towns, quieter than 81% of Washington towns, hipper than 79% of Washington towns.
How Peaceful Valley 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 Peaceful Valley is worth $317,800, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $59,625, which is more affordable than 52% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,477 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peaceful Valley | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $317,800 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,477 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $59,625 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.3% | — |
Who lives in Peaceful Valley
| People | Peaceful Valley | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 51.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Peaceful Valley
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Peaceful Valley since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 27, 2004 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2004.
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 Peaceful Valley itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Peaceful Valley
- Everson, WA9.7 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Lynden, WA13.9 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Sudden Valley, WA18.1 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
- Geneva, WA18.3 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Bellingham, WA20.0 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Ferndale, WA21.2 mi · 15,048 people · home $549,300
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA21.6 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Birch Bay, WA27.2 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
Peaceful Valley questions
Is Peaceful Valley, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peaceful Valley scores better for retirees than 49% of Washington towns and quieter than 81%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Peaceful Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Peaceful Valley is valued at $317,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,625, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,477 a month.
What is the weather like in Peaceful Valley?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Peaceful Valley get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Peaceful Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 27, 2004. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)