I can rattle off a half a dozen favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham but there is none closer to my heart than South Hill. Because it’s where I have chosen to live and raise my family! We love the schools, the proximity both downtown and Fairhaven, the historic homes, and the Bellingham Bay views.
A foggy morning over Bellingham Bay. This photo shows S Garden and S Forest Streets in the South Hill neighborhood.
Pros:
South Hill is exactly that—a large hill. Therefore, bay views abound!
South Hill boasts fantastic schools, including Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School and Sehome High School.
South Hill has many beautiful historic character homes (I included photos of a couple of my favorites so you can get the vibe.)
Many homes are very walkable to Fairhaven, a thriving retail/shopping district.
Cons:
At an average of $374 per sq ft (in the last year—2019), South Hill is one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Bellingham.
It’s difficult to find a large flat yard (again, the hill situation).
Attached garages are harder to come by than in some neighborhoods.
The condos in the South Hill neighborhood tend to be closer to busy streets.
That said, it’s a very desirable place to live. Homes are mostly owner-occupied and nicely maintained. The population is a healthy mix of busy working professionals, retirees, and families. In the areas that border Western Washington University, there are college students. There is an active neighborhood association.
If you are looking to get a better feel for the South Hill real estate market, I’ve put together a dynamic (automatically updated) collection of South Hill properties that are currently for sale, pending or have sold in the last 6 months. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or to view a home that’s currently for sale!