Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Kansas City
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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 Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($208,900 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,385)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
77% lower
350.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$1,230
$65,256 vs $64,026/yr
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$320k less
$208,900 vs $528,600
Kansas City
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Kansas City, 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 | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $65,256 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bellingham wins 11 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $208,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Kansas City, MO are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.