Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,489 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 89°F
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($215,500 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,385)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bellingham by $6,489/yr
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$6,489
$64,026 vs $57,537/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
61% lower
350.0 vs 908.7 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$313k less
$215,500 vs $528,600
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Philadelphia wins 10. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $215,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.