Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,553)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Rialto by $16,724/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($418,300 vs $528,600)
Households earn $16,724 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
45% lower
350.0 vs 641.7 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$16,724
$80,750 vs $64,026/yr
Rialto
Median Home Value
$110k less
$418,300 vs $528,600
Rialto
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $418,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Rialto, CA are about 1,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.