Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°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 10% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($204,800 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,385)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$912
$64,026 vs $63,114/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
51% lower
350.0 vs 707.4 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$324k less
$204,800 vs $528,600
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $204,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 1,963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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