Whatcom County’s Senior Living Options ~ Owned & Rented
For many seniors in Bellingham and Whatcom County, independence is not just about living alone. It is about creating more time and space for what matters most. Friends. Family. Hobbies. The life you have worked hard to enjoy.
Whether you want to downsize, simplify, or find a community of peers, there are local options designed to help you live freely and comfortably.
In this post, I am sharing a sampling of those options so you can explore them, visit their websites, and schedule tours to see what feels right for you.
Active Adult Condo Communities (55+)
These neighborhoods are a strong fit for adults who want both community and privacy. You will often find single level living, walking trails, and shared amenities like clubhouses and libraries, without the upkeep of a large single family home.
Village at Cordata Condominium Association
A 55+ condominium association on roughly 20 acres in the Cordata neighborhood, with 116 owner occupied homes. Amenities include a clubhouse with pool, spa, fitness room, billiards, library, and walking trails. Website: https://vacca.life
Festival Square Condominiums (Cordata)
A 55+ condo association of about 84 mostly single level condos, each with its own garage. Amenities include a clubhouse with game and recreation room. Homeowners association dues typically cover exterior maintenance, roofs, siding, and many utilities.
Cordata Park Place / Park Place at Cordata
A 55+ zero step entry condo community in Cordata with vaulted ceilings, attached garages, private decks, and an owners clubhouse that includes a kitchen, mail room, library, and game room.
Meadowbrook Condominiums (also called Meadowbrook Court, Cordata)
A 55+ condo and townhome style community of primarily single level and one and a half story homes with attached one to two car garages and private decks. Residents have access to a clubhouse with library and gathering space.
El Dorado Condominiums (Cordata)
A gated, age restricted 55+ condominium community of roughly 63 units in multiple elevator buildings. Each condo includes its own garage. Shared amenities include a lodge style clubhouse, community garden, walking areas, and a security gate.
Parkway Square Condominiums (Fairhaven / South Bellingham)
One level, owner occupied condos in a 55+ community built in the mid 1990s near Historic Fairhaven. Each home includes a garage and access to a clubhouse and mail room. The location is walkable to shops, trails, transit, and services.
The Reserve at Cordata
A 55+ active adult HOA neighborhood in North Bellingham. Privately owned single family style homes in a planned community with green space and social programming for residents. Website: https://www.reserveatcordata.com/
Affordable Rental Communities for Seniors
You may not want to own your home anymore, but you are not looking for full service Independent Living or Assisted Living. These communities offer senior focused rentals, in many cases with affordability in mind.
Eleanor Apartments
Eighty affordable one bedroom units for seniors age 62 and older in downtown Bellingham. Rent is typically based on 30 percent of income and includes a PeaceHealth partnership. The property is located at 1510 N Forest Street. Website: mercyhousing.org/northwest/eleanor-apartments
WoodRose Apartments
Affordable senior housing for residents age 62 and older, offering one and two bedroom units. Located at 3303 to 3353 Racine Street. Website: woodroseapartments.com
Deer Run Terrace
Forty two units for adults 55 and older near Sunset Square, with a mix of income based and market rate options. Unsubsidized rents range from 798 dollars to 1,157 dollars per month. Located at 3210 Orleans Street. Website: deerrunterraceapartments.com
Senior Focused Mobile and Manufactured Home Communities
These communities offer land lease style living. You own the home, you rent the space. This can be an appealing middle ground for cost control, simplicity, and staying in Whatcom County.
Parkway Village
A 102 site 55+ community built in 1985 near Fairhaven. Space rent is 665 dollars per month, which includes water, sewer, garbage, and cable. Located at 2015 24th Street.
Lakeway Mobile Estates (also known as Lakeway Estates)
A large community, approximately 220 to 281 sites, built in 1970. Space rent is 892 dollars per month. Features include a two story clubhouse and a pet friendly policy. Located at 1200 Lincoln Street. Website: liveatlakewayestates.com
James Street Estates
A 94 site community built in 1987 with a clubhouse and recreation facilities. Homeowners association dues are 224 dollars per month. Located between Barkley Village and Bellis Fair.
Independent Living and Assisted Living Apartments
If you would rather skip the chores and enjoy a more supported lifestyle, Independent Living apartments may be the right fit. Many offer on site dining, housekeeping, and transportation, along with wellness and social programs.
A lot of these communities also offer what is often called a continuum of care. That means when you are ready for more help, you do not have to move out. You can increase your level of service and stay in the same community you already call home.
Below are Independent Living (IL) and Independent plus Assisted Living (IL/AL) communities in Bellingham, with brief descriptions and websites.
Brookdale Fairhaven, Bellingham
Senior living with support for independence in a landscaped setting near Fairhaven. Website: https://www.brookdale.com/en/communities/brookdale-fairhaven.html
Orchard Park, Bellingham
Independent and assisted living in a central Bellingham location close to shopping and services. Website: https://www.orchardparkretirement.net/
Sapphire at Woodway, Bellingham
Independent and assisted living with personalized care and on site support. Website: https://woodwayseniorcommunity.com/
Solstice Senior Living at Bellingham, Bellingham
A dedicated Independent Living community focused on an active, social lifestyle. Website: https://solsticeseniorlivingbellingham.com/
Spring Creek by Bonaventure, Bellingham
Retirement and Independent Living, along with Assisted Living and Memory Care, in one community. Website: https://bonaventuresenior.com/community/spring-creek-by-bonaventure/
Aging in Place Options
If you are not ready to move, you can still make your current home safer and more comfortable.
Local contractors can add walk-in showers, grab bars, ramps, better lighting, and other safety upgrades to support balance, mobility, and independence.
You can pair those upgrades with support systems that already exist in our community. The Whatcom Council on Aging and the Northwest Regional Council offer senior wellness programs.
Meals on Wheels and More delivers food to qualifying seniors. Local senior centers across Whatcom County offer fitness classes, social activities, clubs, and community connection.
In other words, staying put can still mean staying supported.
Final Thought
Independent living in Whatcom County is not one size fits all. It is about choosing what feels right for you.
That could mean a vibrant 55+ neighborhood where everyone is in the same stage of life. It could mean a smaller condo that frees up your weekends. It could mean rent and predictable costs instead of endless house projects. It could mean modifying the home you are already in, so you can stay there longer with confidence.
If you are thinking about your next chapter, reach out. I can help you explore local options that match your lifestyle, pace, and comfort level, and I will do it with zero pressure.
