Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Bellingham leads 11 of 21 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $15,717 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°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 Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($184,200 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,385)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $15,717/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$15,717
$64,026 vs $48,309/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$344k less
$184,200 vs $528,600
Knoxville
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 11 of 21 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Knoxville wins 10. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Knoxville, TN are about 2,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.