Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1126k less ($528,600 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $842/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,227)
55% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $42,771/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,771 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 75°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
55% lower
350.0 vs 778.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$1126k less
$528,600 vs $1,654,800
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Bellingham
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 75.1°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$42,771
$106,797 vs $64,026/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 92,168 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.