Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Lynn
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Lynn
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,511)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lynn by $6,020/yr
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($442,800 vs $528,600)
Households earn $6,020 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
39% lower
350.0 vs 574.6 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lynn
Median Income
$6,020
$70,046 vs $64,026/yr
Lynn
Median Home Value
$86k less
$442,800 vs $528,600
Lynn
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Lynn 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $442,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Lynn, MA are about 2,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.