Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Bellevue leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
75% less violent crime than San Leandro
Households earn $52,410 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($772,700 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,422)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $52,410/yr
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) 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
$52,410
$149,551 vs $97,141/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
75% lower
138.6 vs 548.7 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
Bellevue
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Home Value
$367k less
$772,700 vs $1,139,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | San Leandro, 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 | $772,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $97,141 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Bellevue is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 15 and San Leandro 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 Bellevue to San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $772,700 median home), income ($149,551 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and San Leandro, CA are about 684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.