Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
New Braunfels
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails New Braunfels by $21,801/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($290,800 vs $528,600)
55% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $21,801 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$21,801
$85,827 vs $64,026/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
55% lower
156.4 vs 350.0 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$238k less
$290,800 vs $528,600
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
18.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 92,993 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 6 and New Braunfels wins 17. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $290,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.