Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 16 of 22 categories
Bellevue
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $47,786 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Hoover
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Hoover, AL
Pros
Homes cost $773k less ($366,200 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1070/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,422)
44% less violent crime than Bellevue
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $47,786/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$47,786
$149,551 vs $101,765/yr
Hoover
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Violent Crime
44% lower
78.0 vs 138.6 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$773k less
$366,200 vs $1,139,500
Hoover
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $101,765 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hoover leads 16 of 22 categories. Bellevue wins 6 and Hoover wins 16. 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 Bellevue to Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $366,200 median home), income ($149,551 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Hoover, AL are about 2,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.