Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Santa Clarita
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $930/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Homes cost $141k less ($528,600 vs $669,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $52,160/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,160 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$141k less
$528,600 vs $669,200
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$52,160
$116,186 vs $64,026/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
53% lower
165.4 vs 350.0 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Santa Clarita wins 13. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $669,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,011 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.