City Snapshots · Whatcom County · April 2026
Community conditions and justice data
for Whatcom County's Interlocal Agreement (ILA) cities.
This dashboard assembles community-condition indicators, economic hardship, early childhood readiness, school outcomes, housing, alongside justice-system data for each of Whatcom County's ILA signatory cities. Readers can examine the indicators for each city and draw their own conclusions about the relationships between them.
4,743
County bookings 2025
45%
County households below Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE)
1,161
Students homeless 2024–25
B
Bellingham
Regional hub · 97,270 residents · 43.6% of county jail bookings (arrest origin) · highest ALICE rate among major ILA cities
Population
97,270
OFM 2024 estimate
Below ALICE
60%
Highest major city in county · WA State avg 37%
2025 Bookings
2,070
43.6% of county total · BPD arrest origin
Crime Rate
85.3
Offenses per 1,000 residents · WASPC 2024
Context
60% of Bellingham households fall below the ALICE threshold, the highest rate among major ILA cities and above the WA State average of 37%. Bellingham's share of county jail bookings (approximately 44% by arrest origin) reflects both its population size (it holds about 38% of the county's incorporated population) and the composition of its booking categories.
Booking charges, Bellingham PD, 2025
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, BPD
2,070 unique bookings (BPD arrest origin) · primary charge per booking
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025. Deduplicated on BookingNumber.
WASPC National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2024
Crime Offenses, BPD, 2023 vs 2024
Total offenses fell 11.3% · bookings rose over same period
Source: WASPC Crime in Washington 2024.
School & community indicators, Bellingham SD
WaKIDS K-Readiness · Bellingham SD · 2023–24 · Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
65.3%
Above WA State avg (52.5%) · district total n=1,400+
3rd Grade ELA Proficiency · Bellingham SD · 2023–24
40.9%
Below WA State avg (~47%) · Source: OSPI
4-Year Graduation Rate · Bellingham SD · 2023–24
89.0%
↑ 6.0pts above WA State avg (83%) · Source: OSPI
School Discipline Rate · Bellingham SD · 2024–25
8.4%
Black students: 28.6%, 3.4× higher than white (8.3%). Hispanic: 14.4%. Largest racial disparity in county.
Source: OSPI 2024–25
Homeless Students · Bellingham SD · 2024–25
+19%
Change vs. prior year · county total 1,161 students (1 in 24)
Youth Suicidal Ideation · Whatcom Co. · HYS 2023
16.1%
10th graders who considered attempt · county-wide
F
Ferndale
Fast-growing industrial city · ~16,430 residents · 160 bookings in 2025 · 3.4% of county total
Population
~16,430
OFM 2023 estimate
Below ALICE (city)
39%
Ferndale CCD broader area: 31%
2025 Bookings
160
3.4% of county total · Ferndale PD
ILA Contribution 2024
$158K
Fund 3502 actuals
Context
Ferndale's 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate of 32.6% is the lowest among the ILA city school districts. The Ferndale CCD (broader census area) shows 31% below ALICE, lower than the city's own hardship rate, reflecting differences between the city limits and the surrounding suburban/rural area.
Booking charges, Ferndale PD, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, Ferndale PD
160 unique bookings · 2025
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WASPC NIBRS 2024
Crime Offenses, Ferndale PD, 2023 vs 2024
Total offenses fell 12% · 2023→2024
Source: WASPC Crime in Washington 2024.
School & community indicators, Ferndale SD
WaKIDS K-Readiness · Ferndale SD · 2023–24 · OSPI
58.8%
Above WA State avg (52.5%) · 2025–26: 60.2%
3rd Grade ELA Proficiency · Ferndale SD · 2023–24
32.6%
Lowest of any ILA city district · below WA State avg (~47%)
Notable gap given moderate ALICE rate
4-Year Graduation Rate · Ferndale SD · 2023–24
85.2%
↑ 2.2pts above WA State avg (83%) · Source: OSPI
School Discipline Rate · Ferndale SD · 2024–25
5.1%
252 students of 4,941 enrolled. Full racial breakdown not at individual reporting threshold.
Source: OSPI 2024–25
Homeless Students · Ferndale SD · 2024–25
Not sep. reported
County total: 1,161 students (1 in 24) · city-level breakdown not published
L
Lynden
Agricultural community · ~16,710 residents · 152 bookings in 2025 (LPD arrest origin) · lowest ALICE rate of any ILA city
Population
~16,710
OFM 2023 estimate
Below ALICE
30%
Lowest major city in county · 15pts below Bellingham
2025 Bookings
123
2.6% of county total · Lynden PD
ILA Contribution 2024
$227K
Fund 3502 actuals
Context
DUI is the top booking charge in Lynden by arrest type. Lynden has the lowest ALICE rate among ILA cities (30%) and the second-lowest booking rate. Hispanic/Latino kindergarteners in Lynden SD had a 29.1% readiness rate in 2025–26, the lowest of any reported subgroup in the county.
Booking charges, Lynden PD, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, Lynden PD
123 unique bookings · 2025
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WASPC NIBRS 2024
Crime Offenses, Lynden PD, 2023 vs 2024
Total offenses fell 15.8% · 2023→2024
Source: WASPC Crime in Washington 2024.
School & community indicators, Lynden SD
WaKIDS K-Readiness · Lynden SD · 2023–24 · OSPI
49.2%
Below WA State avg (52.5%) · 2025–26: 69.2% (significant jump, verify cohort)
3rd Grade ELA Proficiency · Lynden SD · 2023–24
48.5%
Highest of ILA city districts · near WA State avg (~47%) · Source: OSPI
4-Year Graduation Rate · Lynden SD · 2023–24
80.8%
↓ 2.2pts below WA State avg (83%) · Source: OSPI
School Discipline Rate · Lynden SD · 2024–25
2.9%
Hispanic/Latino: 6.6%, 1.9× higher than white (3.4%). Lowest overall rate among ILA cities.
Source: OSPI 2024–25
Homeless Students · Lynden SD · 2024–25
+23%
Change vs. prior year · county total: 1,161 students (1 in 24)
B
Blaine
International border city · ~6,500 residents · 137 bookings in 2025 · highest crime rate per 1,000 in county
Population
~6,500
OFM 2023 estimate
Below ALICE
39%
ALICE 2025 · city proper
2025 Bookings
137
2.9% of county total · Blaine PD
Crime Rate
56.2
Offenses per 1,000 · highest in county · border corridor
Context
Blaine's NIBRS offense rate is elevated relative to other ILA cities. The city's location at the Canada border is associated with a distinct charge composition, including fugitive warrant and property crime categories. Per capita police spending (~$565/resident) is comparable to Bellingham's.
Booking charges, Blaine PD, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, Blaine PD
126 unique bookings (BPD arrest origin, 2025)
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WASPC NIBRS 2024
Crime Offenses, Blaine PD, 2023 vs 2024
Blaine offense trend 2023→2024
Source: WASPC Crime in Washington 2024.
School & community indicators, Blaine SD
WaKIDS K-Readiness · Blaine SD · 2023–24 · OSPI
61.5%
Above WA State avg (52.5%) · 2025–26: 74.3%
3rd Grade ELA Proficiency · Blaine SD · 2023–24
37.9%
Below WA State avg (~47%) · Source: OSPI
4-Year Graduation Rate · Blaine SD · 2023–24
87.1%
↑ 4.1pts above WA State avg (83%) · Source: OSPI
School Discipline Rate · Blaine SD · 2024–25
Low
No student group exceeds 10% reporting threshold. Two or more races: 6.5%. White: below threshold.
Source: OSPI 2024–25
L
Lummi Nation
Federally recognized tribal nation · Lummi Reservation CCD · 321 bookings in 2025 · 6.8% of county total
Below ALICE (CCD)
47%
Lummi Reservation CCD · second highest in county
2025 Bookings
321
6.8% of county total · Lummi PD
Booking trend
+14.6%
2023→2025: 280 → 321 bookings
Within-year return
27.7%
2nd highest agency return rate · 2025
Sovereignty & data context
Lummi Nation exercises tribal sovereignty over health, education, and justice data. School data here is from OSPI's public reporting; tribal health and behavioral health data is sovereign and is not included. The numbers here reflect what is publicly available through OSPI and the WCSO booking file.
Booking charges, Lummi PD, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, Lummi PD
321 unique bookings · 2025
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WCSO Booking Data · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Lummi PD Booking Trend
2023–2025 annual booking volume
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2023–2025.
School indicators, Lummi Nation Tribal School
WaKIDS K-Readiness · Lummi Tribal School · 2023–24
55.2%
Above WA State avg (52.5%) · 2025–26: 75.0% (n≈20, small sample, directional only)
3rd Grade ELA · Lummi Nation Tribal School
Suppressed
OSPI suppresses data when enrollment below reporting threshold. Small school size, not a data gap.
4-Year Graduation Rate · Lummi Nation Tribal School · 2023–24
63.3%
↓ 19.7pts below WA State avg (83%) · lowest in county · Source: OSPI
Graduation gap is the most acute education disparity in the county
School Discipline Rate · Lummi Nation Tribal School · 2024–25
2.2%
American Indian/Alaska Native students, lowest discipline rate of any district in county. Source: OSPI 2024–25
S
Small Cities, Everson, Nooksack & Sumas
Three small ILA cities · combined ~3,500 residents · 125 bookings in 2025 · 2.6% of county total
Everson/Nooksack 2025
53
Everson Nooksack Police · combined agency
Sumas 2025
28
Sumas Police Department
Nooksack PD 2025
9
Nooksack Police Department · separate agency
Combined ILA Contribution 2024
$78K
Everson $35K · Sumas $25K · Nooksack $18K
Context
Cities with fewer than 20,000 residents are not required to follow the Implementation Plan's spending guidance under Section 4 of Ordinance 2023-039. Mt. Baker is a school district, not a municipality, the Mt. Baker area is policed by WCSO. DUI and domestic violence charges are the top booking categories for Everson/Nooksack and Sumas.
Booking charges, Everson/Nooksack Police, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charges, Everson/Nooksack PD
53 bookings · 2025 · Everson Nooksack combined agency
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charges, Sumas PD
28 bookings · 2025 · Sumas Police Department
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
Booking trends, small cities 2023–2025
WCSO Booking Data · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Annual Bookings, Everson/Nooksack & Sumas, 2023–2025
Small volumes, individual years subject to variation
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2023–2025. Deduplicated on BookingNumber.
School indicators, Nooksack Valley SD & Meridian SD
WaKIDS · Nooksack Valley SD · 2023–24
48.5%
Below WA State avg (52.5%) · 2025–26: 39.6%, notable decline, verify
3rd Grade ELA · Nooksack Valley SD · 2023–24
38.6%
Below WA State avg (~47%) · Source: OSPI
4-Year Graduation · Nooksack Valley SD · 2023–24
~91%
Above WA State avg (83%) · Source: OSPI
WaKIDS · Meridian SD · 2023–24
48.1%
Below WA State avg (52.5%) · serves Bellingham/Ferndale fringe
3rd Grade ELA · Meridian SD · 2023–24
37.1%
Below WA State avg (~47%) · Source: OSPI
Homeless Students · Nooksack Valley SD · 2024–25
+49%
Largest percentage increase in county · 2nd only to Meridian (+104%)
Source: OSPI 2024–25 McKinney-Vento
W
Unincorporated Whatcom County
Served by WCSO · rural and semi-rural areas · 1,232 bookings in 2025 · second-largest booking agency
2025 Bookings
1,232
25.4% of county total · WCSO patrol
Crime Rate
19.6
Offenses per 1,000 · significantly lower than Bellingham (85.3)
Within-year return
18.6%
Below county avg return rate · 2025
County ALICE avg
45%
County-wide household hardship · ALICE 2025
Context
WCSO bookings include Department of Corrections (DOC) detainers and supervision violations. WCSO has a proportionally higher share of felony-level and DOC-related charges in its booking mix than BPD, reflecting different jurisdictional contexts: WCSO covers rural and unincorporated areas and handles DOC returns for the county.
Booking charges, WCSO, 2025
WCSO Booking Data 2025 · Chuckanut Health Foundation analysis
Top 5 Charge Categories, WCSO
1,232 unique bookings · 2025 · includes DOC detainers
Source: WCSO Public Booking Data 2025.
WASPC NIBRS 2024
Crime Offenses, WCSO, 2023 vs 2024
Total offenses fell 18.7% · 2023→2024
Source: WASPC Crime in Washington 2024.
⚠ Beta Project, This data initiative is under active development. Figures, methodology, and content are subject to revision. If you notice an error, have additional data, or want to flag an omission, please email
info@chuckanuthealthfoundation.org. We are grateful for corrections.