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Living in
Lynden.
About
Life in Lynden
Living in Lynden means embracing a small-town life where you actually know your neighbors—the population hovers around 16,000, and it's growing steadily—but you're still close enough to Bellingham (15 miles south) that decent job options and urban conveniences aren't a stretch away. The median household income sits at about $103,000, and while homes aren't cheap at around $597,000, the unemployment rate of 4.4% suggests the job market is reasonably solid, though you may find yourself commuting to Bellingham or the broader county for work. Winters here are genuinely wet and cool—think 44°F average highs in January with rain that feels relentless—but summers are dry and mild (around 74°F), so you're trading the intensity of harsh weather for persistent drizzle and the kind of Pacific Northwest climate that defines the region.
Lynden at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
10.5%
Broadband Internet
94.4%
of households
Population Growth
+7.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lynden: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lynden, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.6%), and 7.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.8%
of households
Married Couples
59.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Lynden
In Lynden, home values are 6% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,756
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $619,995 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Lynden
Unemployment in Whatcom County, which includes Lynden, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Lynden: Whatcom County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Whatcom County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lynden Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21 min avg
How Lynden residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lynden, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
Regional airport · few flights226k passengers boarded in 2025
- 104 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lynden runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
140.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,191.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lynden Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2024
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Whatcom County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Whatcom County, which includes Lynden, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2024.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | Heavy Rain | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 2 | Heavy Rain | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 3 | Flood | $42.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
18 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Whatcom County, county-wide
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Whatcom County, which includes Lynden, is typically good — 342 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
31
Good Days
342
per year
Moderate Days
21
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Whatcom County, county-wide
Climate74°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lynden has mild summers (avg high 74°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
74°/50°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.4"
Annual Snowfall
10.8"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
58
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 32°F | 6.98" |
| Feb | 48°F | 33°F | 3.85" |
| Mar | 53°F | 36°F | 5.00" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.97" |
| May | 66°F | 45°F | 3.17" |
| Jun | 70°F | 49°F | 2.39" |
| Jul | 76°F | 51°F | 1.45" |
| Aug | 77°F | 50°F | 1.50" |
| Sep | 71°F | 47°F | 2.93" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 5.31" |
| Nov | 49°F | 36°F | 7.11" |
| Dec | 43°F | 32°F | 6.19" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lynden
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lynden's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 12.3 mi away · Bellingham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lynden
Lynden's student/teacher ratio is 19.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lynden (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 13,544 students · in-state tuition $9,924 · 71% graduate · median earnings $64,305 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,378 students · in-state tuition $5,460 · 50% graduate · median earnings $48,317 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: San Juan Island National Historical Park, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lynden
Lynden has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being San Juan Island National Historical Park (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
San Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
41 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
52 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
59 mi awayKlondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
94 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
94 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lynden
Lynden Library
216 4th Street, Lynden
Cities Near Lynden
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lynden?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lynden FAQ
Is Lynden, Washington affordable?⌄
Lynden's median rent is $1,707/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $103,233/year. Median home value is $596,600.
Is Lynden, Washington safe?⌄
Lynden's violent crime rate was 141 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1192 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lynden, Washington?⌄
Whatcom County, which includes Lynden, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lynden, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Lynden is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,707/month and median household income is $103,233/year. The median home value is $596,600. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lynden, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Lynden is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from