Blaine

As of mid-2026, Blaine's median sale price is about $600,000 (live MLS data on this page) - the lowest of any saltwater city in Whatcom County. In-town homes run in the $400s-$500s, newer construction east of I-5 in the $500s-$700s, and Semiahmoo's golf-course and view homes from the $700s well past $1.5M on the water.

Semiahmoo is Blaine's resort side - a spit of land between Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay with the Semiahmoo Resort, an Arnold Palmer golf course, walking trails, and neighborhoods of view homes and townhomes. It draws retirees, second-home buyers, and remote workers who want water on both sides of the street. HOA rules and golf-course frontage vary a lot by street, so I always walk buyers through the fine print.

Bellingham is about 22 miles south - roughly 30 minutes on I-5. Going north, you're through the Peace Arch crossing in minutes, White Rock, BC is right across the line, and downtown Vancouver is about an hour with normal border traffic. Plenty of Blaine residents live here precisely for that dual-country lifestyle.

The Blaine School District serves the city, Semiahmoo, and Birch Bay, with its elementary, middle, and high school all on one central campus in town. Class sizes are small, and the campus setup is genuinely convenient for families with kids across grade levels.