Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 San Diego leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
San Diego
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $695/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,080)
Homes cost $255k less ($528,600 vs $783,300)
15% less violent crime than San Diego
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $34,631/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,631 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
15% lower
350.0 vs 412.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$255k less
$528,600 vs $783,300
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Diego
Median Income
$34,631
$98,657 vs $64,026/yr
San Diego
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 19.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Diego leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and San Diego wins 14. 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 Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $783,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and San Diego, CA are about 1,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.