Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $93,817 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $896k less ($243,300 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1408/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,422)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $93,817/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$93,817
$149,551 vs $55,734/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
75% lower
138.6 vs 544.3 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$896k less
$243,300 vs $1,139,500
Yakima
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 12 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($149,551 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Yakima, WA are about 103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.