Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Columbus
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
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 Columbus
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($212,500 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,385)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$1,032
$64,026 vs $62,994/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
20% lower
350.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
Columbus
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$316k less
$212,500 vs $528,600
Columbus
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 42.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Columbus wins 10. 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $212,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Columbus, OH are about 2,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.