Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ 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 5.9 pts lower (4.8%)
40% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $17,566 more per year on average
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($312,300 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,385)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $17,566/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Income
$17,566
$64,026 vs $46,460/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
40% lower
350.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$216k less
$312,300 vs $528,600
Newark
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 15 and Newark wins 8. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $312,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Newark, NJ are about 2,392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.