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Moving to Bellingham, WA?
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Bellingham, WA has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,107.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,719 of 2,957 US cities and #72 of 87 in Washington.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Bellingham, WA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bellingham, Washington Safe?
Bellingham, a city of 92,000 nestled between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, boasts a thriving arts scene and is home to Western Washington University. Its port city history is evident in its revitalized waterfront.
Bellingham has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,107.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Bellingham ranks #72 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2719 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Bellingham is larceny-theft, at 3,113.3 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Bellingham's total crime rate decreased by 8.5%, with violent crime rising 8.2%.
Larceny-theft in Bellingham runs 1.9x the national average. Basic measures help — exterior lighting, locked and reinforced entry points — but if you rent, your landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings. Renters insurance typically covers personal property lost to theft or a break-in; you can get a renters insurance quote online in a few minutes.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bellingham Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 336 | 351.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 2.1 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 20 | 20.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 74 | 77.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 239 | 249.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,596 | 3,756.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 470 | 491.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,980 | 3,113.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 146 | 152.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bellingham vs Washington Average
How does Bellingham's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Bellingham | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 351.0 | 439.5 | -20.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,756.9 | 3,428.6 | +9.6% |
| Murder Rate | 2.1 | 4.7 | -55.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,107.9 | 3,868.1 | +6.2% |
Bellingham Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bellingham, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 95,717 | 4,107.9 | 351.0 | 3,756.9 |
| 2023 | 94,968 | 4,487.8 | 324.3 | 4,163.5 |
| 2022 | 93,014 | 6,944.1 | 416.1 | 6,528.1 |
| 2021 | 95,279 | 5,479.7 | 423.0 | 5,056.7 |
| 2020 | 93,629 | 4,888.4 | 263.8 | 4,624.6 |
| 2019 | 91,906 | 3,198.9 | 273.1 | 2,925.8 |
Bellingham Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Bellingham and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Washington crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellingham, Washington safe?
Bellingham has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,107.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bellingham is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Bellingham, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bellingham has a violent crime rate of 351.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,756.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bellingham compare to the national average?
Bellingham's total crime rate of 4,107.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 95,717 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bellingham?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bellingham are larceny-theft (2,980 reported incidents) and burglary (470 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 10.7x in the city.
Is Bellingham safe to visit?
Like any city, Bellingham has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.
How can I protect my home in Bellingham?
Start with the fundamentals: exterior lighting, locked and reinforced entry points, and knowing your neighbors. If you rent, make sure your belongings are insured — a landlord's policy covers the building, not your things. You can see a renters insurance quote online.