Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The picture is mixed. Overall, Birch Bay earns a C, better than 26% of U.S. towns. Its place in the ranking is 204th of 285 in Washington. Where it falls short is cost of living (C−): the typical home is worth about $477K, 5.8 years of the Bellingham metro’s $82K median household income. Walkability is weaker too. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 80% of U.S. towns. Health is its strong suit: residents are healthier than 79% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. 13% of the land locally is conserved, where Washington’s towns sit at 4% and U.S. towns at 4.3%.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · USGS PAD-US.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Birch Bay is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Where Birch Bay beats most towns.
Census counts: 2,656 in 1990, 10,115 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1899 and 2 maps from 1952 on.
8,413 counted in 2010 and 10,115 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Ordered by what stands out in Birch Bay.
Birch Bay is a second-home town and has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns, but it is a long drive from an emergency room.
The nearest emergency room, Peacehealth Peace Island Medical Center, is 29.5 miles away in a straight line.
Among adults in Birch Bay, 16% binge drink. CDC measures, 31 in all: Birch Bay beats Washington on 5 and trails on 9. In Birch Bay, 27% of adults have obesity, and 28% have been diagnosed with depression.
| Birch Bay | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 33% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 33% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 26% | 23% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 71% | 79% |
| What stands out | Birch Bay | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 72.8% | 66.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.1% | 7.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Birch Bay has 691 jobs for its 3,941 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
The top destinations are Bellingham (29%), Blaine (9%) and Ferndale (6%). Most people who work leave Birch Bay to do it: just 3% work in town. Also worth knowing: between 2013 and 2023, jobs here rose by 139, to 691. For half of commuters, work is under 16 miles away.
| Birch Bay | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 15% | 15% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 5% | 8% |
| Median household income | $87,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
July afternoons average 73°, cooler than in 99% of U.S. towns; January nights average 35.5°.
Birch Bay’s July high comes in at 73°F. About 9 inches of snow falls in a winter.
| Birch Bay | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 73°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 36°F | 35°F | 22°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
19% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 2.5% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
32% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 40% across Washington. People 65 and older are 24% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 19% of residents (24% statewide). In Birch Bay, the median age is 44.6 years.
| Birch Bay | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 44.6 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 30% | 29% |
47% women, 53% men
About 111 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.2 points). Across Washington, 49.6% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 52% are men (WA 44%).
| Birch Bay | WA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.2% | 9.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.7% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.7% | 15.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11% | 14.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.3% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.8% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.4% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 7.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.2% | 21.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.3% | 21% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.1% | 24% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12% | 15.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
The biggest park or preserve is British Petroleum Wildlife Area, at 824 acres. Trails total 5.5 miles in 8 parks and preserves. In Birch Bay, the concentration of trails is 0.2 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Birch Bay State Park | 1.2 mi | 661 |
| 2. Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve | 0.7 mi | 54 |
| 3. Bay Horizon Park | 0.3 mi | 73 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Of the losses FEMA expects in Birch Bay, 51% come from earthquakes and 33% from inland flooding. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 59% of U.S. communities. Since 2012, Birch Bay has seen 8 flood insurance claims paid out.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Birch Bay, 82% of households own their home. The town’s going rate for rent stands at $1,222 a month. Bidding over the asking price: 36% of homes sold here.
| Birch Bay | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,222 a month | $1,740 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Birch Bay. Close and well known come first.
6 mi LandmarkPeace Arch
29 mi National Historical ParkSan Juan Island National Historical Park421K visitors a year
17 mi TheatreMount Baker Theatre
17 mi MuseumWhatcom Museum of History and Art
17 mi MuseumSPARK Museum of Electrical Invention35 mi MuseumHeritage Flight MuseumPeace Arch: Arnold C (User:Buchanan-Hermit), Attribution · San Juan Island National Historical Park: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Baker Theatre: Benjamin Cody, Public domain · Whatcom Museum of History and Art: Benjamin Cody, Public domain · SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention: Feedmepaperr, CC0
Birch Bay is unincorporated, so Whatcom County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Where Birch Bay’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
2 within 15 miles of the center of Birch Bay
About 3 of every 100 Birch Bay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
CDP in Washington, United States
Birch Bay (Tsan-wuch, Say-wak) is a census-designated place (CDP) along the shore of the bay named Birch Bay in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,413 at the 2010 census, a 69.6% increase over the 4,961 individuals in the 2000 census. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,115.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
One town shares a border with Birch Bay.
Birch Bay reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Birch Bay with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Birch Bay grades C overall, better than 26% of U.S. towns and #204 of 285 in Washington. It grades A− for health and B− for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes. The typical home is worth about $477,000, 19% below the Washington typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
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