Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $15,129 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($155,200 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($967 vs $1,385)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $15,129/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$15,129
$64,026 vs $48,897/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
77% lower
350.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$373k less
$155,200 vs $528,600
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Macon-Bibb County wins 11. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $155,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 2,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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