Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 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
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($528,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $865/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,250)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $71,582/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $71,582 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$409k less
$528,600 vs $937,700
Kirkland
Median Income
$71,582
$135,608 vs $64,026/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
83% lower
60.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 92,015 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Kirkland wins 14. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $937,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Kirkland, WA are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.