Happy Valley
Grocery stores and local eateries on the north side
Commercial spaces are mostly found on the neighborhood’s north side, within walking distance of apartments and condos. Here, a small shopping plaza is anchored by a Haggen supermarket, as well as national chains like Starbucks, Petstop and Insomnia Cookies, a popular spot with college students that serves warm cookies until 3 a.m. on the weekend. Nearby locally owned restaurants include fast-casual and take-out establishments like Tandoori Bites, which serves Indian food, and Busara Thai Cuisine. JJ’s In and Out Food Market sits in the neighborhood’s northwest corner, close to the university, and serves as a small neighborhood convenience store and deli.
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Nature trails through the Sehome Hill Arboretum
The 175-acre Sehome Hill Arboretum sits just north of Happy Valley, a wooded oasis densely populated with redwood and oak trees dripping with moss. Visitors can explore the native landscape through winding, narrow gravel trails leading to a tall wooden observation tower. “The tower overlooks all of Bellingham and the bay—you can even see into Canada,” says Keith Ferris, a longtime Bellingham resident and local broker with Madrona Residential Real Estate. “Anyone who lives near there and goes to Western Washington University can cut through the arboretum to get there.” More gravel walking trails wind through the neighborhood, including the Connelly Creek Trail, which passes through patches of undeveloped land on Happy Valley’s east side. On the south side, Happy Valley Park provides space for locals to get together with an open play field, picnic tables organized under a green gazebo and a large playground.
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Craftsman bungalows and other single-family homes
On Happy Valley’s southern half, single-family homes are mixed with multiplexes, while condos and apartments are concentrated in the northern half. Home styles include Craftsman bungalows built between 1890 and 1910, which feature gable-front roofs and covered front porches, as well as split-level and ranch-style homes from the 1970s and 80s, which have minimally decorated vinyl exteriors. Local institutions feature similar midcentury architecture, including Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, which has stood in its current building since 1962. Across styles and time periods, three-bedroom properties needing repairs can sell for between $400,000 and $600,000, while renovated homes with updated kitchens and bathrooms can sell for $600,000 to $800,000. Condo complexes on the north side built in the early 2000s offer studio and one-bedroom units for between $250,000 and $300,000, as well as two-bedroom units for $300,000 to $350,000. Flat, well-maintained streets are lined with sidewalks and mature pine trees. Though some homes built before 1950 have since been updated with carports, many homes still lack garages. However, wide shoulders on both sides of the road provide ample space for street parking.
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Bellingham public schools and nearby Montessori programs
Happy Valley Elementary School, rated B by Niche, sits at the center of the neighborhood, within walking distance of most homes. After attending Happy Valley Elementary, local kids can move on to the B-plus-rated Fairhaven Middle before graduating from the A-rated Sehome High. Sehome High students can take classes in sports medicine, broadcast journalism and engineering. In addition to public schools, there are a few Montessori programs for pre-kindergarten, elementary and middle school students within Happy Valley, including Samish Preschool and Cascades Montessori Middle. Montessori programs aim to cultivate socio-emotional intelligence by encouraging students to follow their curiosity and collaborate with their peers in a relatively unstructured environment.
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Accessing Interstate 5
Interstate 5 runs along Happy Valley’s east border, stretching 87 miles south to Seattle and 42 miles north to the Canadian border. Locals can get to downtown Bellingham, 3 miles away, or Fairhaven, 2 miles away, on Whatcom Transportation Authority’s Route 14 bus. Peace Health Saint Joseph Medical Center, Bellingham’s only major hospital, is about 5 miles north. For wider travel, Bellingham International Airport is about 8 miles northwest.Student life at Western Washington University
Western Washington University has about 14,000 undergraduate students, many of which are enrolled in business, education and computer science programs. The university is most known for its long-term commitment to sustainability and the overall laid-back vibe, without any kind of Greek life system. Many students are attracted to the natural landscape and outdoor lifestyle in Bellingham—the university’s recreation center even offers two 30-foot climbing walls and a 12-foot bouldering wall. In addition to student life, Western Washington is a major employer for Bellingham, many of which are drawn to Happy Valley so they can live close to work.
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Written By
Andi Sink
Photography Contributed By
Jake Chaplin
Video By
Mallory Nolte
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lisa Parslow
Lisa Parslow
eXp Realty
(206) 895-6594
54 Total Sales
1 in Happy Valley
$215,000 Price
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Kathy D. West
Kathy D. West
Windermere Real Estate JS
(360) 503-0712
70 Total Sales
1 in Happy Valley
$250,000 Price
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James Heintz
James Heintz
ONE Realty
(360) 594-5583
72 Total Sales
4 in Happy Valley
$139K - $732K Price Range
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Chris Erdmann
Chris Erdmann
eXp Commercial, LLC
(360) 685-1413
79 Total Sales
1 in Happy Valley
$500,000 Price
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DiAnn Sager
DiAnn Sager
RE/MAX Gateway
(360) 404-7411
80 Total Sales
1 in Happy Valley
$245,000 Price
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Ashleigh Abhold
Ashleigh Abhold
Hansen Group Real Estate Inc
(360) 685-8093
135 Total Sales
3 in Happy Valley
$242K - $720K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- K to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Sehome Hill Arboretum
Fairhaven Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Fairhaven Village Green
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Ridgemont Park
Boulevard Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Happy Valley | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Happy Valley Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Happy Valley, Bellingham sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Happy Valley, Bellingham over the last 12 months is $349,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$361,500
Median Sale Price
$349,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$695,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$343,750
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
45
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
4%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$517
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
927
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Median Year Built
1979
Months of Supply
2.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,487
Significantly below the national average
1,927
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
908
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
592
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
487
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jul 1912 - 2pm
$510,000
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 851 Sq Ft
- 1200 Lenora Ct
- New 7 days ago
Affordability in the heart of Happy Valley! Home features include 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, large deck, and 2 car carport. Excellent opportunity to own a home at an affordable price and put some sweat equity into updating the house and doing some deferred maintenance repairs. The large carport has plenty of lockable storage. Close to Western Washington University, Fairhaven, and downtown Bellingham.
Darcel Fogerty eXp Realty
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Saturday, Jul 1910am - 1pm
$1,295,000
- 5 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 3,758 Sq Ft
- 1605 Donovan Ave
- New 9 days ago
Immaculate 3,800 square foot Fairhaven craftsman home only steps from parks, playgrounds & trails. No details were missed in the 2009 renovation of this 5-bedroom (2 down, 3 up), 4-bath home with primary on the main floor and a secondary en-suite on the upper floor. High-end workmanship featuring fir wainscoting, Chuckanut sandstone fireplace, large chef's kitchen with high-end appliances opening
Chet Kenoyer Windermere Real Estate Whatcom
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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$975,000
- 5 Beds
- 2.5 Baths
- 2,957 Sq Ft
- 1121 22nd St
- New 14 days ago
Spacious 5-bedroom + Bonus room home with nearly 3,000 sq ft in the desirable Happy Valley Neighborhood. Built in 2003, this well-maintained property is ideal for investors or future owner occupants, with a lease in place until July 2026. The main floor features a large living room, open kitchen with dining area & bar seating, one bedroom, an oversized laundry room with extra storage, & an
Josh Runestrand RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc.
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$670,000
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,560 Sq Ft
- 1604 22nd St
- New 27 days ago
2/1 duplex in Happy Valley! Between Donovan and Old Fairhaven Parkway, with easy access to Fairhaven, WWU, and I-5. Move-in ready for owner-occupy as Unit 1 is vacant, or rent out both sides as an income property. 2022 roof and recent exterior paint. Recent facelift on Unit 1 included new interior paint, new interior trim, new LVP flooring, new kitchen counters and new dishwasher, new baseboard
Ben Tucker Bellingham Real Estate Company
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$499,000
- 3 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,030 Sq Ft
- 1814 Wilson Ave
- New 6 days ago
Imagine waking up to the sound of seagulls overhead, then strolling into Fairhaven for your morning coffee or tea. After a quick breakfast or lunch, enjoy a peaceful walk along the Taylor Dock boardwalk, taking in the beauty of Bellingham Bay. Just six blocks from all that charm and activity, this home offers unbeatable access to the best of the area. With the Interurban Trail practically in your
Tina Grace Coldwell Banker Bain
Homes for Rent
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-
-
$1,454 - $1,942 per month
- Fairhaven Plaza
- Studio-2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 456+ Sq Ft
- 3129 Old Fairhaven Pkwy
- Bellingham, WA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,531
Median Age
28
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
17.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
9.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$37,379
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$57,928
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.8%
College Graduates
54.5%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
30.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
72.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
34''
Average Winter Low Temperature
34°F
Average Summer High Temperature
73°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
39
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
40
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
South Hill
Scenic residential community sandwiched between Fairhaven and downtown Bellingham
City Center
Bellingham's downtown district packed with dining and entertainment options
Fairhaven
Highly sought-after Bellingham area with lots of shops and restaurants
South Bellingham
Community with lots of trails and a rural feel on the southern edge of Bellingham
Edgemoor
Highly sought-after community with high property values, just south of Fairhaven
Samish
Outdoorsy community on the edge of Bellingham, near trails and Lake Padden Park
Reviews
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