Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,611 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($150,800 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,385)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bellingham by $6,611/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$6,611
$64,026 vs $57,415/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
39% lower
350.0 vs 571.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$378k less
$150,800 vs $528,600
Independence
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Independence wins 11. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $150,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Independence, MO are about 1,539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.