Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($358,400 vs $528,600)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Income
$4,087
$64,026 vs $59,939/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
14% lower
350.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$170k less
$358,400 vs $528,600
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 15 and Elizabeth wins 8. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $358,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.