Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia 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
Livonia
Michigan
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Livonia by $28,432/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($249,000 vs $528,600)
Households earn $28,432 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,385)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Income
$28,432
$92,458 vs $64,026/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
35% lower
228.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$280k less
$249,000 vs $528,600
Livonia
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $249,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 82.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 94,928 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and Livonia 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $249,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Livonia, MI are about 1,919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.