Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Reading, 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
Population
91,353
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $21,174 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°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 Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($96,900 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($942 vs $1,385)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $21,174/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$21,174
$64,026 vs $42,852/yr
Bellingham
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
4% lower
337.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$432k less
$96,900 vs $528,600
Reading
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 94,601 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Reading 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $96,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Reading, PA are about 2,326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.