Higher Education in the Bellingham, WA Metro Area

In the Bellingham, WA Metro Area according the 2005 American Community Survey, 33.6 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and 9 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Bellingham, WA Metro Area has a highly-educated 2005 population, with 32.2 percent of the over 25 years old population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher, according to the 2005 American Community Survey. The Bellingham MSA was reported to have a higher percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Washington's proportion of 30.2 percent and a higher percent than the US proportion of 27.2 percent.

From the year 2000, the Bellingham metro area has increased in the percent of the population that is over the age of 25 with a BA or Higher. This population cohort has grown by 5.0 percent to a total of 32.2 percent in 2005. According to the American Community Survey, the proportion of the population in 2005 with a BA or Higher is greater than the State of Washington percent of 30.2 and greater than the US percent of 27.2.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has increased by 3.2 percent. By 2005, 32.2 percent of the total male population, in the area, has obtained at least a Bachelors Degree. From 2000 to 2005, the percent of women with a Bachelors or Higher has increased by a total of 6.2 percent. By 2005, a total of 32.2 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Bellingham, WA Metro Area, the largest educational attainment category for men is the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 33.8 percent receiving this level of education. The women in the Bellingham metro area have on average achieved a greater level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 32.2 percent (Men) versus 32.2 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 34 percent of the women population in the area achieving this level of education.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Bellingham, WA

The Bellingham metro area had a population that was estimated at 183,471 in the year 2005. The population has increased sharply, since the population in 2000 of 167,631. This growth represents an increase of 9.4 percent. Bellingham ranks 5 of 10 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Washington and the metro area ranks 130 of 361 metro areas when analyzing total MSA population change across the nation.

In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated the median age in the Bellingham metro area to be 35.7 years of age. The median age in Bellingham is less than the median in Washington of 36.7. From 2000, the area has seen an increase in this median, when at that time it was 34.0 years old. With 38.2 percent of the population in 2005 being comprised of children and youth younger than 18, Bellingham can be understood as being made up of a relatively high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the estimated 2005 area population, making up 58.6 percent of the population within the age group. People 65 and older make up 11.2 percent of the total population in the area. Compared to other metro areas in the US, this represents a medium-low proportion of the area population base.

When measuring the total land area, the Bellingham metro area covers a total land area of 2120 total square miles. The area has a medium-low average area density of 87 persons per square mile, in 2005. Similar metro areas, in terms of density, in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Texarkana (89 per sq. mile ), College Station-Bryan (90 per sq. mile ), Charlottesville (90 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Winchester (86 per sq. mile ), Albuquerque (86 per sq. mile ), Longview (85 per sq. mile ).

The Bellingham metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made of 85.2 percent White, 0.7 percent African American, 3.3 percent Asian, and 5.9 percent Hispanic. The area population base can be described as having a modest level of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity, with 9.9 percent minorities. This is less than the State of Washington percent of 18.3. Since 2000, Bellingham has increased the level of diversity when 8.7 percent of the total population were minorities.

Estimated since the year 2000, a high amount of people have migrated into the Bellingham metro area, with 3,425 people migrating in internationally. The migration from outside the US into Bellingham makes up 2.6 percent of immigration into the State of Washington. This percent of immigration can be considered high when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other metro areas across the US.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.