Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 98°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($321,800 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,385)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Income
$1,025
$64,026 vs $63,001/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
52% lower
350.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Home Value
$207k less
$321,800 vs $528,600
Fresno
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Fresno wins 10. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $321,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Fresno, CA are about 838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.