Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $441/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $14,044/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Ontario, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $14,044 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $16k less ($513,000 vs $528,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$14,044
$78,070 vs $64,026/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$16k less
$513,000 vs $528,600
Ontario
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Ontario wins 12. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Ontario, CA are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.