Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,583)
Households earn $7,955 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($299,700 vs $528,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Median income trails Bellingham by $7,955/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Income
$7,955
$64,026 vs $56,071/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
16% lower
350.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$229k less
$299,700 vs $528,600
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $299,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Miami Gardens, FL are about 2,752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.