Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Conroe leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Conroe
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Conroe by $7,604/yr
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.4%)
Conroe, TX
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($262,500 vs $528,600)
30% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $7,604 more per year on average
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,385)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Median Income
$7,604
$71,630 vs $64,026/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
30% lower
243.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$266k less
$262,500 vs $528,600
Conroe
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.8% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $262,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 51.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 92,475 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Conroe leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Conroe wins 15. 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 Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $262,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Conroe, TX are about 1,902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.