Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Bellingham, WA
🏆 Beaverton leads 15 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554 ✓ Larger
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $24,873 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Homes cost $34k less ($494,700 vs $528,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Bellingham
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,663)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $24,873/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.9%)
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$24,873
$88,899 vs $64,026/yr
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$34k less
$494,700 vs $528,600
Beaverton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Beaverton
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 75.1°F
Bellingham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
4% lower
350.0 vs 364.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Bellingham, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $528,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $64,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 46.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Bellingham School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 38.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 ✓ Larger | 91,353 |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 13.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Bellingham's 104.1 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 15 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Bellingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $528,600 median home), income ($88,899 vs $64,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Bellingham, WA are about 227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.