Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Fort Worth
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Worth by $8,700/yr
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($250,300 vs $528,600)
Households earn $8,700 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
24% lower
350.0 vs 458.4 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Income
$8,700
$72,726 vs $64,026/yr
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$278k less
$250,300 vs $528,600
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $250,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,313 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Fort Worth wins 14. 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $250,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.