Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,700 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than McAllen
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($158,700 vs $528,600)
57% less violent crime than Bellingham
Rent averages $430/mo less ($955 vs $1,385)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $7,700/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$7,700
$64,026 vs $56,326/yr
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
57% lower
150.0 vs 350.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$370k less
$158,700 vs $528,600
McAllen
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and McAllen wins 15. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $158,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and McAllen, TX are about 2,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.