Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Inglewood
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Homes cost $161k less ($528,600 vs $689,700)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,666)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Inglewood by $3,537/yr
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Households earn $3,537 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
48% lower
350.0 vs 674.6 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$161k less
$528,600 vs $689,700
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Inglewood
Median Income
$3,537
$67,563 vs $64,026/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Inglewood, 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 | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 106,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 14 and Inglewood wins 9. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $689,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Inglewood, CA are about 1,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.