Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,649)
Homes cost $48k less ($528,600 vs $576,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $18,645/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Bend, OR
Pros
52% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $18,645 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$48k less
$528,600 vs $576,900
Bend
Median Income
$18,645
$82,671 vs $64,026/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
52% lower
168.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,649⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $82,671 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 19.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 99,442 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 6 and Bend wins 17. 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 Bellingham to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $576,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Bend, OR are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.