Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Bellingham leads 16 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $14,835 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($192,000 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($893 vs $1,385)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $14,835/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$14,835
$64,026 vs $49,191/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
59% lower
350.0 vs 845.6 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$337k less
$192,000 vs $528,600
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 16 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 16 and Cincinnati wins 7. 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 Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $192,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Cincinnati, OH are about 1,978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.