Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $21,827/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $21,827 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
65% lower
350.0 vs 993.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$12k less
$528,600 vs $540,400
Denver
Median Income
$21,827
$85,853 vs $64,026/yr
Denver
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Denver wins 12. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $540,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Denver, CO are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.