Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Bellevue leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
93% less violent crime than Oakland
Households earn $55,162 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Oakland, CA
Pros
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,849 vs $2,422)
Homes cost $256k less ($883,800 vs $1,139,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $55,162/yr
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Bellevue
Median Income
$55,162
$149,551 vs $94,389/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
93% lower
138.6 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Bellevue
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Home Value
$256k less
$883,800 vs $1,139,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $883,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $94,389 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Bellevue is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 17 and Oakland wins 6. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $883,800 median home), income ($149,551 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Oakland, CA are about 679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.