Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Pueblo leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Pueblo
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $11,232 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($197,700 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($940 vs $1,385)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $11,232/yr
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$11,232
$64,026 vs $52,794/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
75% lower
350.0 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$331k less
$197,700 vs $528,600
Pueblo
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 111,430 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pueblo leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Pueblo wins 12. 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $197,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Pueblo, CO are about 1,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.