Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
48% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
Homes cost $204k less ($528,600 vs $732,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,714)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Median income trails New York by $12,581/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $12,581 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
48% lower
350.0 vs 671.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$204k less
$528,600 vs $732,100
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Median Income
$12,581
$76,607 vs $64,026/yr
New York
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 14 and New York wins 9. 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 York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $732,100 median home), income ($64,026 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and New York, NY are about 2,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.