Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Lubbock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Lubbock
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
Households earn $5,292 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lubbock
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($181,600 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,385)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bellingham by $5,292/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$5,292
$64,026 vs $58,734/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
57% lower
350.0 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$347k less
$181,600 vs $528,600
Lubbock
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ 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 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $181,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Lubbock, TX are about 1,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.