Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Hoover
Alabama
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $37,739/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $37,739 more per year on average
Homes cost $162k less ($366,200 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$37,739
$101,765 vs $64,026/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
78% lower
78.0 vs 350.0 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$162k less
$366,200 vs $528,600
Hoover
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 91,995 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 3 and Hoover wins 20. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $366,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Hoover, AL are about 2,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.