Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
El Monte
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
17% less violent crime than El Monte
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,605)
Homes cost $69k less ($528,600 vs $597,200)
Cons
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Income
$4,097
$64,026 vs $59,929/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
17% lower
350.0 vs 423.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$69k less
$528,600 vs $597,200
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
El Monte
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 108,682 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 14 and El Monte 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $597,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and El Monte, CA are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.