Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Bellingham, WA
🏆 Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($251,300 vs $528,600)
Households earn $7,710 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,385)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Bellingham, WA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Arlington
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arlington by $7,710/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$7,710
$71,736 vs $64,026/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$277k less
$251,300 vs $528,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 75.1°F
Bellingham
Violent Crime
28% lower
350.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $528,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,385⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $64,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 46.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Bellingham School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 75.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 38.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 91,353 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 13.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Bellingham's 104.1 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 15 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 15 and Bellingham wins 8. 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 Arlington to Bellingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $528,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $64,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Bellingham, WA are about 1,715 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.