Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 11 of 20 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,621)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.1%)
Median income trails Palm Coast by $4,798/yr
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($283,300 vs $528,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Households earn $4,798 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 104.1 on the COL index
Palm Coast
Median Income
$4,798
$68,824 vs $64,026/yr
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$245k less
$283,300 vs $528,600
Palm Coast
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 11 of 20 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Palm Coast wins 11. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $283,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Palm Coast, FL are about 2,534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.