Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Roseville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $555/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,940)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Homes cost $68k less ($528,600 vs $596,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $48,239/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,239 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$68k less
$528,600 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$48,239
$112,265 vs $64,026/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
37% lower
219.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Roseville
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 58 ✓ 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 | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 7 and Roseville wins 16. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $596,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Roseville, CA are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.