Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa 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 Rosa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $639/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $133k less ($528,600 vs $661,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 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 82°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $28,578/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,578 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$133k less
$528,600 vs $661,700
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$28,578
$92,604 vs $64,026/yr
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Santa Rosa 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $661,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.