Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 18 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
San Angelo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than San Angelo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($171,700 vs $528,600)
38% less violent crime than Bellingham
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,385)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Median Income
$1,014
$65,040 vs $64,026/yr
San Angelo
Violent Crime
38% lower
218.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$357k less
$171,700 vs $528,600
San Angelo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
22.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $65,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 99,422 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 18 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and San Angelo wins 18. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $171,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and San Angelo, TX are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.