Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Median income trails Salem by $3,514/yr
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($349,500 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,385)
Households earn $3,514 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
34% lower
350.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Income
$3,514
$67,540 vs $64,026/yr
Salem
Median Home Value
$179k less
$349,500 vs $528,600
Salem
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($64,026 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Salem, OR are about 266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.