Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Peoria
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $5,958 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Peoria
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($146,700 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($917 vs $1,385)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Bellingham by $5,958/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$5,958
$64,026 vs $58,068/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
74% lower
350.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$382k less
$146,700 vs $528,600
Peoria
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bellingham wins 11 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $146,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Peoria, IL are about 1,689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.