Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Bellingham, WA
🏆 Allen leads 19 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Bellingham
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,233 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $138k less ($390,200 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $362/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $57,233/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$57,233
$121,259 vs $64,026/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
70% lower
106.4 vs 350.0 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$138k less
$390,200 vs $528,600
Allen
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $528,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $64,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 46.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Bellingham School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 75.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 38.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 91,353 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Bellingham's 104.1 (US average = 100).
Allen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 19 of 23 categories. Allen wins 19 and Bellingham wins 4. 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 Allen to Bellingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $528,600 median home), income ($121,259 vs $64,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Bellingham, WA are about 1,712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.