Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano 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
Plano
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $41,653/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $41,653 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $116k less ($412,500 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$41,653
$105,679 vs $64,026/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
57% lower
151.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$116k less
$412,500 vs $528,600
Plano
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and Plano 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $412,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Plano, TX are about 1,712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.