Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 18 of 22 categories
Bellingham
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Eugene
Oregon
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Households earn $2,545 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($406,000 vs $528,600)
9% less violent crime than Bellingham
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,385)
Cons
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Bellingham by $2,545/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$2,545
$64,026 vs $61,481/yr
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 104.1 on the COL index
Eugene
Violent Crime
9% lower
317.9 vs 350.0 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$123k less
$406,000 vs $528,600
Eugene
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Eugene leads 18 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 4 and Eugene wins 18. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $406,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Eugene, OR are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.