Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 22 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
Memphis
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
86% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $15,936 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°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 12% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($139,600 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,385)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $15,936/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$15,936
$64,026 vs $48,090/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
86% lower
350.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$389k less
$139,600 vs $528,600
Memphis
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Memphis 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $139,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Memphis, TN are about 1,898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.