Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
League City, TX
🏆 League City leads 18 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
League City
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$117,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
113,469 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,598)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails League City by $53,290/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than League City
League City, TX
Pros
Households earn $53,290 more per year on average
Homes cost $216k less ($312,500 vs $528,600)
70% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,598/mo
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
League City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
League City
Median Income
$53,290
$117,316 vs $64,026/yr
League City
Violent Crime
70% lower
103.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
League City
Median Home Value
$216k less
$312,500 vs $528,600
League City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
League City
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | League City, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $312,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,598⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $117,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | CLEAR CREEK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 58.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 113,469 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs League City's 100.2 (US average = 100).
League City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, League City leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and League City wins 18. 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 League City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $312,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $117,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and League City, TX are about 1,961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.