Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Phoenix
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Phoenix by $8,066/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($340,200 vs $528,600)
Households earn $8,066 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
56% lower
350.0 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$8,066
$72,092 vs $64,026/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$188k less
$340,200 vs $528,600
Phoenix
Summer Heat
28.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Phoenix wins 15. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.