Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Bellingham, WA
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $315k less ($213,400 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,385)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $9,290/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.8%)
Bellingham, WA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $9,290 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$315k less
$213,400 vs $528,600
Albany
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 75.1°F
Bellingham
Median Income
$9,290
$64,026 vs $54,736/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
57% lower
350.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $528,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,385⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $64,026 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 46.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Bellingham School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 38.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 91,353 |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Bellingham's 104.1 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 9 and Bellingham wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Bellingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $528,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $64,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Bellingham, WA are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.