Whatcom County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.0 | 231,919 people · 17th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Whatcom County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.0 — 2066th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Washington, it ranks 17th of 39 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Whatcom County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 95.6 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 95.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 88
Economic Vitality 76.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 69
Structural Poverty 36.5
Unemployment Rate 85
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Legal Distress 33.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 13.2
Debt in Collections 9
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 9

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Whatcom County
Whatcom County, WA 42.0 Normal —
Okanogan County, WA 44.0 Normal +1.9
Skagit County, WA 40.0 Normal -2.0
San Juan County, WA 29.0 Healthy -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Whatcom County
Scott County, KY 42.1 Normal +0.0
Nevada County, CA 41.9 Normal -0.1
Sumter County, FL 42.2 Normal +0.2
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal -0.2
Belknap County, NH 42.2 Normal +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Whatcom County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Whatcom County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Whatcom County.

KULSHAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
Bellingham
360-671-5600-1 Website
Pre-Purchase

See all counselors in Washington →

Find an Attorney

Washington State Bar Association — Find Legal Help offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Washington State Bar Association — Find Legal Help 1-800-945-9722

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Whatcom County residents at no cost.

Northwest Justice Project (NJP) 1-888-201-1014
Columbia Legal Services 1-206-464-1122

Self-Help Resources

Washington Law Help — Foreclosure Free legal information and self-help resources for low-income Washington residents, including foreclosure guides, tenant rights in foreclosure, and links to legal aid.
Washington Courts Self-Help Resources Washington Courts website with forms, instructions, and resources for self-represented litigants including those involved in foreclosure-related proceedings.
DFI Foreclosure Assistance and Information Department of Financial Institutions page with foreclosure prevention resources, consumer alerts about foreclosure rescue scams, and links to assistance programs.

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Washington →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Whatcom County, Washington?

    Whatcom County has a County Distress Index score of 42.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,066th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Whatcom County?

    The primary driver of distress in Whatcom County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 95.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Whatcom County compare to neighboring counties?

    Whatcom County (42.0) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Okanogan County, WA (44.0); Skagit County, WA (40.0); San Juan County, WA (29.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Whatcom County's score of 42.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Whatcom County's CDI score?

    Whatcom County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Whatcom County?

    Whatcom County, Washington has a population of approximately 231,919 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.