The city of Blaine is a border town, 20 miles north of Bellingham. Blaine is best known for its two border crossings: Peace Arch Border Crossing and the Pacific Highway Border Crossing. Vancouver, B.C. is only a 32-mile trip from the border, and White Rock looks across to Blaine as well.
Once considered a sleepy town, the city of Blaine is now a prime area of future growth for Whatcom County, with several new housing developments in the works and in planning. In recent years, the downtown Blaine area has undergone a resurgence, with major improvements done to the city boardwalk. The boardwalk looks out to Drayton Harbor and the marina, which is operated by the Port of Bellingham. Downtown offers incredible charm with a growing list of new restaurants and shops.
Blaine has some distinct communities: Birch Bay, which we highlighted last week ; Semiahmoo, a resort and golf course community; the city of Blaine itself, which offers residential and condominiums within walking distance to schools and the downtown area; and East Blaine (heading up H Street), which offers a variety of established residential neighborhoods. Many of these areas provide views looking west back towards the bay or north into Canada. Blaine also has rural areas as you head east towards Lynden, with many homes on acreage.
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Relocating to Blaine, WA
Are you moving to Blaine, WA? Our relocation guide will help you familiarize yourself with this small border town.
First, before planning your move to Blaine, it’s helpful to review the city’s location, population, and features. Here is a breakdown of quick stats you need to know.
Did You Know? Blaine, WA, is the northernmost town on I-5.
Blaine, WA Demographics
Location and Population
- Size: 5.6 square miles
Distance to Canadian Border: 0 minutes - Distance to Seattle, WA: 2 hrs
- Population: 5,313 (2019)
- Median Age: 45.5
Work and Income
- Median Income (Household): $71,324
- Per-Capita Income: $38,645
- Mean travel time to work: 23.6 minutes
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.2%
- High school or higher: 92.9%
Housing
- Average Home Sale Price: $415,000
- Home appreciation in last 12 months:12.3%
- Average dollar per square foot: $246
- Total Housing Units: 2,483
- % of Homes Occupied: 90%
JLS Realtor Insights: Blaine is a town on the rise. Due to it being a border town, Canadians are a big part of the economy here…Yet, with the border closed for the better part of 2020 and into 2021 due to the pandemic, Blaine still experienced 12% home appreciation. Currently the downtown boardwalk at Drayton Harbor has more commercial development in the works, and Blaine also has over 200 new construction homes are slated for construction over the next 2 years. Being located on the I-5 corridor, adjacent to the bay, and a 25 minute drive to Bellingham, Blaine is poised for a growth rate that may just surpass every other city in Whatcom County. Housing options include older character homes walking distance to the downtown area, larger mid-century homes (some with views) going up H street, many homes on acreage, and a new construction by Skeers Construction in 2021. And again, a large new construction to come shortly. There is also a few condo complexes along the water.
Is Blaine, WA Safe?
With a little over 40 crimes per 1,000 residents, Blaine experiences less crime compared with the state’s average of 60.6 per 1,000 residents.
Did You Know? Blaine is home to two Canadian border crossings: The Peace Arch Border Crossing and the Pacific Highway Border Crossing.
Blaine, WA Local Events
February
Bite of Blaine
March
Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival
May
Blessing of the Fleet
June
Run to the Border
Hands Across the Border
Kite Fun Fly
July
Old Fashioned 4th Celebration
Blaine Harbor Music Festival
Tall Ship Tours
Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival and Tall Ships
August
Peace Arch Concert Series
Summer Fun in the Park
Roadeo at Blaine Skate Park
October
Rocktoberfest
December
Holiday Harbor Lights
Resources
Colleges and Universities
516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226
3028 Lindbergh Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225
Hospital Nearby
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
2901 Squalicum Pkwy, Bellingham, WA 98225
Emergency Room Open 24 Hours
Veterinarians
8892 Blaine Rd, Blaine, WA 98230
8115 Birch Bay Square Street #135, Blaine, WA 98230
School District
765 H Street, Blaine, WA 98230
Parks in Blaine
Birch Bay State Park
5105 Helweg Rd, Blaine, WA 98230
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2
7511 Gemini St, Blaine, WA 98230
Birch Bay Park
7499, 7419 Birch Bay Dr, Blaine, WA 98230
Download Our Complimentary Blaine Relocation Guide
Learn about Blaine’s features, housing, and more.
Download our Buyer’s Guide
Define your goals and expectations, learn local market strategies, finance your home and understand the home purchase process.
