Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $18,059 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Shreveport
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($168,900 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($945 vs $1,385)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $18,059/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$18,059
$64,026 vs $45,967/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
72% lower
350.0 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$360k less
$168,900 vs $528,600
Shreveport
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $168,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.