Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $691/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $32k less ($528,600 vs $560,500)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $51,838/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,838 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$32k less
$528,600 vs $560,500
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Median Income
$51,838
$115,864 vs $64,026/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
46% lower
189.9 vs 350.0 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Elk Grove wins 13. 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 Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $560,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Elk Grove, CA are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.