Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Bellevue leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Vancouver
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $75,925 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Vancouver
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 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
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $736k less ($403,400 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $897/mo less ($1,525 vs $2,422)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $75,925/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$75,925
$149,551 vs $73,626/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
76% lower
138.6 vs 582.3 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$736k less
$403,400 vs $1,139,500
Vancouver
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 15 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($149,551 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Vancouver, WA are about 137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.