Whatcom County, WA Distress Report: Foreclosure, Tax Liens & ZIPs (2026)
Where is distress concentrating in Whatcom County, Washington? DLRadar grades every Whatcom County ZIP 0-100 from foreclosure, tax-lien, mortgage and insurance records, peaking at 35/100. Here is the 2026 Whatcom County breakdown.
- Whatcom County's most distressed ZIP is 98220 at 35/100.
- 18 ZIP codes tracked in Whatcom County, averaging 35/100 distress.
- Whatcom County reads contraction — home values down 0.3% year over year, 1.0% off peak.
- Vacancy runs 15.1% across Whatcom County's tracked ZIPs, with a 11.6% poverty rate.
- The typical Whatcom County home is worth about $512,972 against a ~$80,723 median income.
- Lending headwind in Whatcom County sits at 51/100 — a forward read on distressed supply.
Based on DLRadar's public-record distress index, updated every month. Free to cite with attribution to DLRadar (dlradar.com).
| Rank | ZIP | Composite distress |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98220 | 35/100 |
| 2 | 98225 | 35/100 |
| 3 | 98226 | 35/100 |
| 4 | 98229 | 35/100 |
| 5 | 98230 | 35/100 |
| 6 | 98240 | 35/100 |
| 7 | 98244 | 35/100 |
| 8 | 98247 | 35/100 |
| 9 | 98248 | 35/100 |
| 10 | 98262 | 35/100 |
| 11 | 98264 | 35/100 |
| 12 | 98266 | 35/100 |
Most distressed ZIP codes in Whatcom County (composite distress 0-100, 2026)
What is driving Whatcom County distress
Nothing here is estimated: Whatcom County is scored from filings alone, and its ZIPs average 35/100 composite distress. The inputs are FHFA house prices, CFPB delinquency, county recorder foreclosure and lien records, FEMA and NFIP claims, and Census ACS.
Whatcom County market phase and pricing
DLRadar places Whatcom County in contraction; prices moved down 0.3% over the year and remain 1.0% under peak. Longer marketing times follow, and with them the sellers worth calling.
See the distressed properties behind the data in Whatcom County
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Frequently asked
Which part of Whatcom County, WA scores highest for distress?
ZIP 98220 leads Whatcom County at 35/100, recomputed monthly from public records.
Which phase does Whatcom County sit in right now?
FHFA price-index movement places Whatcom County in contraction; prices are down 0.3% over twelve months.
How is the Whatcom County data sourced?
Each Whatcom County number can be traced back to a federal or county source — FHFA, CFPB, the recorder, FEMA/NFIP and Census ACS. One deterministic model covers all 18 local ZIPs and every other county in the country.
How much do distress scores vary between Whatcom County ZIP codes?
The county figure is a blend, not a description. Across the Whatcom County ZIPs DLRadar ranks, scores run from 35/100 in 98220 down to 35/100 in 98266, against a Whatcom County average of 35/100. With 0 points between best and worst, county-level targeting in Whatcom County wastes effort.
What do Whatcom County home values and vacancy say about distressed supply?
The typical Whatcom County home carries about $512,972 of value against a median household income near $80,723. Vacancy across Whatcom County's tracked ZIPs runs 15.1% and the poverty rate is 11.6%. Affordability pressure plus standing vacancy is what moves an owner from behind to selling, which is why it is paired with Whatcom County's filings and its 51/100 lending headwind.
Related
Produced by fixed formulas over public records — research, not investment, legal or financial advice. The underlying index updates monthly.