Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,870 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 83°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 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $417k less ($111,400 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($995 vs $1,385)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $19,870/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$19,870
$64,026 vs $44,156/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
40% lower
350.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$417k less
$111,400 vs $528,600
Rochester
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 14 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $111,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Rochester, NY are about 2,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.