Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $22,583 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°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 12% higher than Dayton
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($86,200 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $555/mo less ($830 vs $1,385)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $22,583/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$22,583
$64,026 vs $41,443/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
74% lower
350.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Dayton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$442k less
$86,200 vs $528,600
Dayton
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 137,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 14 and Dayton wins 9. 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $86,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Dayton, OH are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.