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I've been falling inlove with Bellingham by reading about it and looking at pictures. If anyone has any general information about Bellingham that would be great! For example how is the cost of living in comparison to say Seattle? What is there to do in the city? Are jobs good?
Also, post pictures ! Turn this into a Bellingham picture thread if you want, I'll be pleased.
Bellingham is located in northwest Washington around Bellingham Bay. It is about an hour and 10 minutes from the northern portions of the Seattle Metro, and about 30 minutes from the Candian Border.
Bellingham gets a lot of rain, and they are the cloudiest city in the United State. The city is also quite windy year round.
While it is a nice city, it can feel somewhat isolated from the rest of Washington. It is sort of in it's own little world. Because of it's proximity to Canada, it gets both the Seattle market channels and radio stations, and well as Canada's. It is all about local in Bellingham, and it is a pretty liberal town that is into the arts, hippies, and supporting local farms (which is cool when you go to the grocery store). Canadians swarm into the city and shop in the mall and chain stores, leaving Bellingham's main arterials congested throughout the year. You can easily often see that 35-45% of cars in a parking lot are Canadian. It is also a college town being home to Western Washington University. You are near recreation opportunities such as Mount Baker. You get all the modern shopping amenities as the Seattle metro does, but less of it. You can choose from just one Walmart, Costco, Target, Trader Joes, etc. The Bellis Fair Mall is the largest shopping mall in the county. There are numerous grocery stores and a great farmers market in the summer months. The waterfront has a nice marina and walking path. Also Lake Padden is a great recreational area. Now for some pictures.
There is a hospital, ranked one of the best in the nation this year, as well as local fire, state patrol office, county sheriff, and municipal police. Local news comes from the Bellingham Herald newspaper. There is a local channel in Bham, but it doesn't do nightly newscasts like it did in the past. It is KVOS.
Bellingham looks nice, but I've never spent much time there, only been traveling through. I'm sure Lamplight, our very own authority on everything Bellingham, will chime in soon, and I'm sure with fantastic self shot photos to boot!
I've only been here for seven months, so there's a lot I'm still learning about Bellingham. Cost of living is surely lower than Seattle (I haven't lived in Seattle, so I'm just assuming). Rent is a little higher than my hometown in TN, but not too bad. I have a nice one bedroom apartment in Fairhaven and it's $695 per months. That's more than most one bedroom apartments in my home town, but Fairhaven's also a LOT nicer than my hometown. Gas is expensive, of course, but again, that depends on where you're coming from. I'm pretty sure it's well over the national average, though. I've heard people state that food is more expensive here, but I have my doubts. Some things certainly are, but I've found other items are actually cheaper. I can get a head of lettuce cheaper here and a loaf of bread is about half the price it was in my hometown. Milk is a little cheaper, too, but the brand I buy is produced just a few miles away, so that may help. Some organic products are cheaper here for certain brands. For example, when I lived in TN I liked the Cascadian Farms brand organic cereal, but it was $5 or more for one box. Here it's $4, which is less than a lot of the standard cereal. Again, this may have to do with the fact that it's made not too far from here, but I don't know. All I know is overall, my grocery bill is usually slightly cheaper here than back home. My electric bills are also a lot less, but I don't know if that's due to the rate or just the simple fact that I don't need to use nearly as much here. My only source of heat this winter has been a very small space heater, and the heat lamp in the bathroom. My highest electric bill so far was $90. In Tennessee my highest electric bill in the winter was $268, and even in less drastic cold weather there it was always $150-200. I can't say about water and sewer costs because that's included in my rent. But since it's included, I'm guessing it's not too high. Considering all those things, and the fact that I don't need a car here to get around, I'd say my overall cost of living is actually cheaper here than in Tennessee. But a lot of that is due to my particular lifestyle.
As far as weather goes, I've heard more than once that we had an unusually sunny December, so I don't really have much to say on that. Today it's brilliantly sunny, but the last two weeks have mostly been drizzly and cloudy, sometimes just cloudy and damp, but with no precipitation. So far the overcast skies haven't bothered me at all, but I'm assuming by the time summer arrives I'll be eager for it, even if I'm not exactly miserable and sick of cloudy weather. But again, even in this it's partly due to my specific experiences. Living in TN made me hate warm weather and bright sunlight, because there warm weather is 85+ degrees with high humidity, and bright sunlight means one whole side of the sky is so blinding you can't even look in that direction. Here, warm weather is 75 degrees with a dew point of 55, and bright sunlight is not nearly so intense, or at least it doesn't seem like it. The sun doesn't feel as hot here. I visited my hometown over Christmas, and I couldn't believe the difference that makes. Standing in the direct sunlight there on a 45 degree day and you start to get warm quickly. Too warm, in my opinion. Here I find the warmth on a 45 degree day pleasant.
I couldn't say much concerning jobs. I've been looking for one myself but not having much luck. It seems there are quite a few job openings out there, but many I see are either entry level jobs that don't pay much, or highly specialized jobs that probably pay well, but don't do me any good since I have no experience in those fields. One thing just browsing for jobs online doesn't tell you is how much competition there are for those jobs. That's something I couldn't comment on, but I imagine the competition's pretty stiff, like it probably is in most places now. I made sure I had enough money to last me a couple of years without a job before moving here, and though I've applied for several and sent out my resume, I've mostly been leaning toward doing my own thing independently (and trying to figure out exactly what!), so I haven't exactly been blanketing the town with resumes and applications.
I've only been here for seven months, so there's a lot I'm still learning about Bellingham. Cost of living is surely lower than Seattle (I haven't lived in Seattle, so I'm just assuming). Rent is a little higher than my hometown in TN, but not too bad. I have a nice one bedroom apartment in Fairhaven and it's $695 per months. That's more than most one bedroom apartments in my home town, but Fairhaven's also a LOT nicer than my hometown. Gas is expensive, of course, but again, that depends on where you're coming from. I'm pretty sure it's well over the national average, though. I've heard people state that food is more expensive here, but I have my doubts. Some things certainly are, but I've found other items are actually cheaper. I can get a head of lettuce cheaper here and a loaf of bread is about half the price it was in my hometown. Milk is a little cheaper, too, but the brand I buy is produced just a few miles away, so that may help. Some organic products are cheaper here for certain brands. For example, when I lived in TN I liked the Cascadian Farms brand organic cereal, but it was $5 or more for one box. Here it's $4, which is less than a lot of the standard cereal. Again, this may have to do with the fact that it's made not too far from here, but I don't know. All I know is overall, my grocery bill is usually slightly cheaper here than back home. My electric bills are also a lot less, but I don't know if that's due to the rate or just the simple fact that I don't need to use nearly as much here. My only source of heat this winter has been a very small space heater, and the heat lamp in the bathroom. My highest electric bill so far was $90. In Tennessee my highest electric bill in the winter was $268, and even in less drastic cold weather there it was always $150-200. I can't say about water and sewer costs because that's included in my rent. But since it's included, I'm guessing it's not too high. Considering all those things, and the fact that I don't need a car here to get around, I'd say my overall cost of living is actually cheaper here than in Tennessee. But a lot of that is due to my particular lifestyle.
As far as weather goes, I've heard more than once that we had an unusually sunny December, so I don't really have much to say on that. Today it's brilliantly sunny, but the last two weeks have mostly been drizzly and cloudy, sometimes just cloudy and damp, but with no precipitation. So far the overcast skies haven't bothered me at all, but I'm assuming by the time summer arrives I'll be eager for it, even if I'm not exactly miserable and sick of cloudy weather. But again, even in this it's partly due to my specific experiences. Living in TN made me hate warm weather and bright sunlight, because there warm weather is 85+ degrees with high humidity, and bright sunlight means one whole side of the sky is so blinding you can't even look in that direction. Here, warm weather is 75 degrees with a dew point of 55, and bright sunlight is not nearly so intense, or at least it doesn't seem like it. The sun doesn't feel as hot here. I visited my hometown over Christmas, and I couldn't believe the difference that makes. Standing in the direct sunlight there on a 45 degree day and you start to get warm quickly. Too warm, in my opinion. Here I find the warmth on a 45 degree day pleasant.
I couldn't say much concerning jobs. I've been looking for one myself but not having much luck. It seems there are quite a few job openings out there, but many I see are either entry level jobs that don't pay much, or highly specialized jobs that probably pay well, but don't do me any good since I have no experience in those fields. One thing just browsing for jobs online doesn't tell you is how much competition there are for those jobs. That's something I couldn't comment on, but I imagine the competition's pretty stiff, like it probably is in most places now. I made sure I had enough money to last me a couple of years without a job before moving here, and though I've applied for several and sent out my resume, I've mostly been leaning toward doing my own thing independently (and trying to figure out exactly what!), so I haven't exactly been blanketing the town with resumes and applications.
That sounds fantastic. My fiancee and I are vegetarians, so we eat lots of fruits and veggies, and organic food as a whole. It's extremely expensive here in Texas to eat like that. Like you, I too am sick and tired of the sun and heat here in the south. I live in Joaquin, TX near Lousyanna. We've been in a near constant drought for the 4 years I've been here. It's a giant dust bowl, and our warm days in the summer are around 97-106 anywhere in there is our typical Summer days. Our winters are absolutely pathetic. The other day it was nearly 90 degree's, as it has been since December with only a few occasional days of cold.
I'm in Nursing school and plan to get my license for the state of WA once I graduate, and moving up there. I'll be done by June next year if all goes as planned. I intend on visiting Washington, and Bellingham specifically before making any decision to move there. Hopefully through with Nursing Homes(assuming they are in Bellingham, or near Bellingham) as well as hospitals I will be able to find a job before moving. I also intend on staying home half a year and working here to save all my money for our move.
How are the mountain views in Bellingham, or near towns? Assuming you've visited any of them. Personally, I don't intend on living directly in Bellingham as I don't enjoy neighbors, but I'd like it to be very close by.
About 1/2 hour to the north is Lynden, Washington. Much smaller in population and still fairly close by, and from what I've heard a pretty nice place to live.
Bellingham can have some pretty nice mountain views, depending on the weather. It's not quite like Seattle where you have the Olympics on one side and the Cascades on the other, and depending on where you are in town you may find smaller hills blocking your views of the bigger mountains, but still, on a clear day it's normal to see this:
About 1/2 hour to the north is Lynden, Washington. Much smaller in population and still fairly close by, and from what I've heard a pretty nice place to live.
You just can't compare Bellingham to Lynden. The two couldn't possibly be more different. Lynden is hardcore right wing. Bellingham is very liberal.
As to Lynden being a "pretty nice place"...if you like Dutch Reform Christian, then it's a slice of heaven. Otherwise it's an uptight Stepford Wives type place.
You just can't compare Bellingham to Lynden. The two couldn't possibly be more different. Lynden is hardcore right wing. Bellingham is very liberal.
As to Lynden being a "pretty nice place"...if you like Dutch Reform Christian, then it's a slice of heaven. Otherwise it's an uptight Stepford Wives type place.
When it comes to Whatcom County, with the exception of Point Roberts, I can really only go by what I've read and heard from others. I am now adding this information into the database that is my brain. Like that analogy btw lol
I still haven't ventured out to Lynden, Ferndale, or any of those smaller towns to the north. Come to think of it, I haven't explored any to the south yet, either, except for Seattle.
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Gas is expensive, of course, but again, that depends on where you're coming from. I'm pretty sure it's well over the national average, though. I've heard people state that food is more expensive here, but I have my doubts. Some things certainly are, but I've found other items are actually cheaper. I can get a head of lettuce cheaper here and a loaf of bread is about half the price it was in my hometown. Milk is a little cheaper, too, but the brand I buy is produced just a few miles away, so that may help. Some organic products are cheaper here for certain brands. For example, when I lived in TN I liked the Cascadian Farms brand organic cereal, but it was $5 or more for one box. Here it's $4, which is less than a lot of the standard cereal. Again, this may have to do with the fact that it's made not too far from here, but I don't know. All I know is overall, my grocery bill is usually slightly cheaper here than back home. My electric bills are also a lot less, but I don't know if that's due to the rate or just the simple fact that I don't need to use nearly as much here. My only source of heat this winter has been a very small space heater, and the heat lamp in the bathroom. My highest electric bill so far was $90. In Tennessee my highest electric bill in the winter was $268, and even in less drastic cold weather there it was always $150-200. I can't say about water and sewer costs because that's included in my rent. But since it's included, I'm guessing it's not too high. Considering all those things, and the fact that I don't need a car here to get around, I'd say my overall cost of living is actually cheaper here than in Tennessee. But a lot of that is due to my particular lifestyle.
