Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $1364/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,749)
Homes cost $497k less ($528,600 vs $1,025,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $58,922/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,922 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
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
$497k less
$528,600 vs $1,025,700
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Irvine
Median Income
$58,922
$122,948 vs $64,026/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
76% lower
84.0 vs 350.0 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Irvine, CA are about 1,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.