Crime per Capita in Whatcom County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Whatcom County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
D-
Overall Crime Grade™
C |
|
D- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C- |
$121.4 million
Cost of Crime™ for Whatcom County, WA
In 2025, crime will cost $1,317 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Whatcom County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Whatcom County, WA Safe?
The D- grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US county. Whatcom County ranks in the 14th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 14% of counties but less safe than 86%. This analysis applies only to Whatcom County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Whatcom County is 48.83 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Whatcom County Residents generally consider the southeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Whatcom County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 16 in the central areas to 1 in 32 in the southeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Whatcom County, WA see the most incidents - about 3,669 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 258 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Whatcom County, WA
The total projected cost of crime in Whatcom County for 2025 is $121,377,517. This translates to approximately $526 per resident and $1,317 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Whatcom County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 62.5%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 26.3%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.1%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Whatcom County Compared to Other Counties?
| Whatcom County, WA: | $526 |
|---|---|
| King County, WA: | $819 |
| Benton County, WA: | $391 |
| Washington: | $610 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Whatcom County is $526 per year, which is $62 more than the national average and $84 less than Washington's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Whatcom County:
- In King County, WA, crime costs $819 per person, which is $293 more than in Whatcom County.
- In Benton County, WA, crime costs $391 per person, which is $135 less than in Whatcom County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Whatcom County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Whatcom County |
Cost per Whatcom County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$13.6 million |
$59 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$10.5 million |
$46 |
Robbery |
$6.28 million |
$27 |
Assault |
$15.8 million |
$68 |
Kidnapping |
$2.43 million |
$11 |
Vehicle Theft |
$13.1 million |
$57 |
Burglary |
$9.65 million |
$42 |
Theft |
$28.5 million |
$124 |
Arson |
$1.07 million |
$5 |
Vandalism |
$16.8 million |
$73 |
Animal Cruelty |
$95,828 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$2.11 million |
$9 |
Identity Theft |
$1.42 million |
$6 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$121,377,517 |
$526 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Whatcom County, WA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Whatcom County totals $148,305,395 ($643 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $269,682,912 ($1,170 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Whatcom County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the south part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Whatcom County has 48, have the same problem. Of Whatcom County’s 230,589 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Whatcom County, WA at ISP Reports.Whatcom County Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Whatcom County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.384 |
Robbery |
0.8651 |
Rape |
0.7538 |
Murder |
0.0313 |
Total Violent Crime |
4.034 (C) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
23.85 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.680 |
Burglary |
4.616 |
Arson |
0.1919 |
Total Property Crime |
32.34 (D-) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1735 |
Drug Crimes |
1.239 |
Vandalism |
10.19 |
Identity Theft |
0.7940 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0562 |
Total "Other" Rate |
12.46 (C-) |
Individual Whatcom County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Whatcom County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Whatcom County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D- | C+ | F | |
D | C- | D- | |
D+ | C+ | D | |
D- | D | D- | |
D | B | D- | |
C | C+ | D+ | |
C- | C- | D+ | |
D+ | D+ | D | |
C | C+ | D+ | |
B- | C+ | C+ |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Whatcom County is higher versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
B+ | C | C | |
A+ | A | A | |
B+ | C | C | |
C+ | D | D | |
B- | B- | B- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A | A | |
D+ | C- | C- | |
A+ | B+ | B+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Whatcom County is as safe as the Washington state average and less safe than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Whatcom County, WA average SchoolGrade of N/A, with N/A% actual proficiency versus 36% projected; overall, schools N/A. See Whatcom County schools on SchoolGrade
About the Data
CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.
Crime By Zip Code Download
Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.
Download CSV
Home Security
A crime occurs on average every 46 minutes in Whatcom County. Want to protect your home?
Home Security Companies in Whatcom County, WA
All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.