Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
South Gate, 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
South Gate
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $82,363 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than South Gate
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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
South Gate, CA
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($578,900 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1022/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,422)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $82,363/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellevue
Median Income
$82,363
$149,551 vs $67,188/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
74% lower
138.6 vs 525.6 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
South Gate
Median Home Value
$561k less
$578,900 vs $1,139,500
South Gate
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $578,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellevue is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 15 and South Gate 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $578,900 median home), income ($149,551 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and South Gate, CA are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.