Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Overland Park
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $36,850/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Overland Park
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $36,850 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $167k less ($361,800 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Overland Park
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$36,850
$100,876 vs $64,026/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
47% lower
184.4 vs 350.0 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$167k less
$361,800 vs $528,600
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and Overland Park wins 18. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $361,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Overland Park, KS are about 1,532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.