Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Huntington Beach
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Homes cost $448k less ($528,600 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $933/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,318)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $50,721/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,721 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$448k less
$528,600 vs $976,800
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$50,721
$114,747 vs $64,026/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
41% lower
207.3 vs 350.0 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 17.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Huntington Beach wins 15. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $976,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.