Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°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 11% higher than Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($170,700 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($995 vs $1,385)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$1,648
$64,026 vs $62,378/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
50% lower
350.0 vs 703.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Des Moines
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$358k less
$170,700 vs $528,600
Des Moines
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Des Moines wins 11. 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 Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $170,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Des Moines, IA are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.